Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all blessed this week, My family is sick but I am praying for all to be well before Christmas. I want to leave a quick note with a great recipe I just came across I haven't had it yet, but I plan on making it in a few week. I placed a nut order from the U.S. and when that comes in it will be my dinner for a few days.

I am have a few problems again, My smell sensitivity has come back, I am getting motion sickness, and I feel my vertigo acting up also. There is something that I am eating that is not agreeing with me. I am going to figure it out soon, I am not sure how though. But I am clever!

Have a Merry Christmas and God bless you!

Raw Pumpkin Pie

Crust

1 cup almonds, soaked overnight, drained, and dehydrated

[NOTE] Soaking Nuts: Nuts have high amounts of enzyme inhibitors. These enzymes are useful in seeds and nuts because it prevents them from sprouting prematurely. Soaking nuts will neutralize these enzyme inhibitors and make these nuts easier to digest and the nutrients easier to absorb. you should always soak your nuts then dehydrate them again for storage,

1 cup pecans, soaked overnight, drained, and dehydrated
1 cup date pieces (or pit whole date and chop up)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
water to help press out pie crust
In a food processor, blend the nuts until evenly ground. Add the dates, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt and continue to blend until it begins to form a ball. Remove the dough and press into your pie plate. Use some water to help spread out if necessary. Dehydrate crust at 105 degrees for a few hours.

[NOTE] Pie crust thickness will depend on which size pie pan you use, that is, 8-inch to 10-inch.

Filling

4 cups raw pumpkin or sweet potato, peeled and shredded
1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked overnight and drained
1 avocado, peeled and seeded
1 cup raisins, soaked for 1 hour, just to soften
4 to 6 pitted dates, in 1 cup filtered water
1 cup Agave ( start with a half cup then more for desired sweetness)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
4 tablespoons ground psyllium, from the health food store. It helps to firm up the filling.

Place the pumpkin, macadamia nuts, avocado, raisins, dates and soaking water, Agave, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt into a blender and blend until smooth. Add the psyllium and continue to blend well. Let the mixture sit in the blender for approximately 10 minutes to congeal a bit. Blend one more time. Pour into the pie crust. Dehydrate for another 1 to 2 hours. Serve warm or refrigerate for a few hours or over night.

Recipe by chef Cassandra Comerford. She had her classical culinary training from Kendall College in Chicago and specializes in vegetarian and vegan cooking, raw foods, sugar-, dairy-, wheat-, and gluten-free baking.

Day 45...

Hello all.

I am having a hard time again, its the evil potato thing. I have been craving potatoes so much lately. I asked Mike to go to the store and get me some potatoes. He said he would go in a while. Later he came into the room and said he felt that I was feeling weak at the moment, and he needed to be strong for me. "Lets go and make some raw food together" I jumped up with joy and said: " you want to make food with me?!?" We made a raw fennel and spinach soup, ( it was amazing soup! ). Later he juiced some green juice for me and the kids. When I am weak he is strong. The scriptures say the same thing about Jesus. When we are weak He is strong for us and gives us the strength! Almost everyday for the last 2 weeks Mike has gotten up early and made me enough green juice for the day and the kids also. He has been going to the store every time he is out to get us fresh vegetables and food. I don't know if I have ever been more inspired to take care of my health, than when mike began to walk through it with me! The best Christmas present is my husband!

My Fennel Soup

2 handful's Spinach
1 med fennel
1 garlic clove
1/2 avocado
1/2 red apple
2 celery stalks
1T. tamari or soy sauce or nama shoyu
1T. coconut oil
Agave to taste
Cumin to taste ( I like alot)
Gram Marsala
salt and pepper if needed

Blend all together and enjoy. If you like things hot but raw, put in a pan and heat on stove ( never in a microwave) until you can keep your finger in the soup for 4 seconds without being burned. This is a easy soup for me because I usually have most of the ingredient on hand except for the fennel. I hope you enjoy this it is one of my favorites!

May the Lord bless you, and keep you...

Amberlea

Day 38

I wanted to share with you a email that my sweet friend Jayne sent me in response to my question about why I felt so bad after I cheated. This is a great response and very encouraging to me I hope it is helpful to you also.. All is ok today, but I feel bogged down from the last few days. Other than that as Jayne said I am back on the raw horse..

Until tomorrow

Amberlea


Hi Amberlea...I Wanted to let you know I'm holding you in my thoughts and prayers. Also wanted to encourage you to "get back on the horse" (after reading your last blog entry). Because of all your physical issues and most are so serious....you really don't have the liberty to play around w/ the food you choose to eat....it's way too soon. I know you know that now. Really, until you are safely free of all your physical aliments (particularly the tumors and liver issues)...you MUST stick with the program.

Can you eat cooked? I would say give it 6 more months of all raw...than the only cooked should be your cooked...not restaurant cooked. You don't know what other ingredients are in the restaurant's food to make it "tasty" or to preserve the color or prolong it's cooked life. All kinds of chemicals/preservatives/colorings etc. Especially fast food... may tasted good...but your body is your best barometer.

Even I (without any of your health issues) can have problems eating restaurant food. My body tells me the next day...my eyes...my tummy. Every now and than I succumb to eating some dish from the co-op deli (scrutinizing the posted ingredients looking for problematic foods...like canola oil)....and even still...I pay for it the next day.

When someone starts eating more healthfully (whether it's raw or some other approach) and see big improvements in how they feel...they frequently take liberties prematurely. This is human nature. Food can be a big addiction...that's why any addiction leads to huge problems. It is constantly in the background beckoning our taste buds. Also there's a huge addictive emotional component to our past food cravings.

When you do really really need to eat something cooked....only you should prepare it so you know exactly what it consists of. Than (at least until you're better)...very simple cooking. Like a baked potato...or lightly steamed veggies. Watch your starches as they become sugar in your body...and until your cancer is gone you have to be oh so careful about this.

I hoped I've answered your question in your last blog entry...as why you reacted as you did. You took in food that was poison to your system. It looked innocent...it was not. All restaurant food has hidden ingredients that you cannot account for...not even to address that it was not organic.

I hope you've recovered from that outing...and are more resolved than ever to stay true to what you know is working for you. Don't be discouraged....you are getting stronger!

Love, Jayne

Day 37

Confession time!

Well you all know that a week or so ago I had some cooked vegan soup and it caused my liver to hurt. I don't know what I was thinking but I did it again. I went with a friend shopping and forgot my lunch. So I decided to have a bean burrito at Taco Bell with some nachos and cheese. I was really hungry and I thought it wouldn't matter. My body responded so badly I couldn't believe it. Within 5 minutes of the first bite I got a small headache. 10 minutes later (after I finished) My head hurt so bad I took some Iobophrofin. Later on the train I felt all my old aches and pains I haven't had in 3 weeks. I was so sick, my Vertigo kicked in, body aches, liver pain, skin hurt, spleen throbbed, heart hurt, my nerves tingled, and I couldn't breathe well. When I got home 2 hours later the scariest thing happened. My large 4-5 inch tumor in my left breast started to burn. Then the little pea size ones all lit up. Then I noticed about 6 pea size tumors in my right breast went on fire and the fire pain started to increase more and more until it was almost unbearable. I didn't know that I had tumors in my right side, but I know what it feels like and I am for sure I do now. My breasts still hurt, when I started the diet the pain went away in about 3 weeks. Will they take that long again to stop hurting?

Why did my body have such a reaction to cooked, processed foods? (please respond if you have a answer!) I also had some cooked potatoes another day but only had a headache after. Now I am sure that I have to do a 100% raw diet. I don't think my body will let me do anything else. But I was hoping to be able to do some cooked foods every once in a while, when I needed to, I am bummed. But at least I now know how my body will respond.

I learned several lessons through this: These verses spoke to me after this happened and I wanted to share them with you and how they affected me.

Exodus 34:6 says: And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed. "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty.


Exodus 23: 20-30 ( I will just write the parts that spoke to me in this passage -K-)

Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak:
(skip to verse 23)
For My Angel will go before you and bring you in...

Verse 25) So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away form the mist of you.

Verse 29: I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you, (30) Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.

For me this means to me that the beasts are my illnesses, and the land is my physical body will be healed slowly and steadily until I am fully healed.


This passage in Exodus the Lord spoke to me several times lately... You can read the whole passage, but these highlights are what touched my heart about my current circumstances.

Galatians 5: 22-25 " But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

What am I doing the Lord gave me specific instructions to heed His voice and I will be healed. I once again have been trying to do this on my own strength. He is the one who gives me strength and I have learned this lesson so many times. I have to practice self-control in this area. God is the only one who heals and I understand that, but he uses so many things in our lives to teach us lessons, grows our faith, and makes us more like Him. I want to be healed, but I want to be more like Jesus most of all, to know Him more. I think he put me on this path of raw foods for several reason; one of the most important ones for me is self-control. When someone has practiced self-control in one area of their life, It plays out in so many other areas too!

I have to remember why I am doing this, I am doing this for Jesus first and He is the one I want to honor and glorify! I know He forgives me and I know I will make mistakes so, I forgive myself. I want to live a long life, be there for my family, raise my kids and serve the Lord!

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 36

Hi, sorry for the electrical difficulties. We are back online, what a week. We prayed for God to provided us with a new computer and he did. Within 24 hours people sent us the exact amount needed to replace our computer only 7 dollars shy. With email's letting us know it was for a computer. So thank you Lord. Well I have a confession to make. A few days ago I cheated a little with a high price to pay. I thought I could sometimes do a 80/20 diet, 80% raw and 20% cooked. Well I was so wrong and how I felt after was a huge lesson on self control. I will write tomorrow all about it, but for now thanks for praying for me and walking with me through my journey.

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 30

I have to say, no...I have to shout it!! 30 DAYS ALREADY!!! What a month, in the beginning of November I was not in a good place. Scared, nervous, and not knowing what I would find on my new journey. When I went to get on the train to see Dani I almost cried. Dani, who I never met before, wasn't going to put up with my whining, my aversion to vegetables. My husband said that is why God was sending me to a place where my pride wouldn't let me play games. He was right!

Dani gave up 12 days, 288 hours of her time, to teach, encourage, and watch me heal. What kind of person does that these days?? I ate her food ( which she paid for ), slept in her spare bed, used her gas, took time away from her normal life...and she taught me some stretching exercises to help my muscles, ( I can't believe the difference my body feels with stretching). She is a massage therapist and I was able to received some massages. I haven't had a massage in 6 years because it hurt too bad! After 3 days on the diet, I was able to be touch lightly and loosen up my muscles a bit. She made most of my meals for me and Juiced green juices everyday. Juicing is no small task by the way. She taught me so many things about UN-cooking and how to prepare my meals fast, and most importantly, she taught me the science behind Raw food! She truly gave of her self, and in essence was used to SAVE MY LIFE... I left with a true friend and am forever grateful for the love she showed!!!

I have a difficult week, detoxing is good for me but I hate it. My computer ( and printer! ) have given up the ghost, So I am without my 'mac-book' (liquid damage is not covered under warranty,) the kids 2 portable DVD player broke and Mikes computer is now crashing every two hours. I am having trouble backing up files, no Skype phone, no music, radio. AARRRGHH!!! Does anyone want to sponsor a missionary in Germany... HOUSTON, WE ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!! OK...I feel better for venting... Thank you for listening.

So on a lighter note, I needed a new dressing for my salad. My friend Sara told me of a raw ranch dressing in one of my books. It was fantastic, so here it is

Raw Ranch

1/2 C. fresh lemon juice
1 T. Celtic sea salt
1 T dried Chives, rosemary, oregano, and Sage
1 C. Whole, raw macadamia nuts
1/3 C. cold pressed olive oil (optional) but recommended
Water to blend easily, and to desired consistency

Blend in a high speed blender and enjoy..... If you don't have a vita-mix you can gring the nuts in a coffee grinder and then blend all in a blender.

Written in the valley of the shadow of electronic mayhem...

by your Amberlea

Day 28

Hello How are you today. I am not sure if anyone is reading my blog or not, but if you are thanks..I have not been feeling well the last few days because I am detoxing. It is normal, with a diet like this but not fun. lets talk about weight loss and enzymes. I've lost 10 pounds to date but have lost many many inches, Cheers to the new slimmer me!

The raw food diet in my opinion is the best for weight loss and healing every disease, It goes against everything we are taught about good health. but with the thousands of testimonies of 100% healing's and how the lord told me about this diet I have to agree that it is the best.

The raw food diet is high in carbohydrates, rich in vitamins and minerals, and low in fat but this diet has a unique feature- Enzymes. Enzymes are what break down the excess fat that needs to be eliminated in weight loss. And the only way to keep it off. A examination of the fat deposits of individuals weighing between 300 and 500 pounds reveals decreased levels of fat-splitting lipase enzymes. Only enzymes do the work of breaking up fat deposits and elimination them, so a diet void of enzyme-rich food (no matter how restrictive or low calorie) is bound to frustrate dieters in the long run. Most diets, even the best ones, fail to get results because of the absence of enzymes in them. Cooked, enzymeless food is fattening: The same amounts of raw food are not. The raw food diet approach to dieting works with nature rather than against it. a living-food diet does not mean starvation it means super-nutrition and slow, steady, healthy weight loss. You do not have to count calories or weigh out bird size portions.or kitchen scales or feel deprived when you do not ear and guilty when you do the same living food diet that nourishes and heals those with diabetes, cancer, arthritis works wonders for the overweight.

Enzymes are particularly sensitive to the molecular destruction of cooking. Unfortunately, each of us is given only a limited supply of enzyme energy at birth that must work to keep every body system in working order throughout our lifetime. The only other backup source we have comes from the food we eat- but food cooked above 118 degrees F. kills all enzymes. So what happens if you make some big enzyme withdrawals when you catch a virus, do something physically strenuous, face an emotional crisis, breathe unclean air, get extremely angry, and then eat cooked and processed foods? The balance is your enzyme account drops low, is not replenished, and your body faces enzyme bankruptcy. When this happens the body puts out an emergency call to enzymes throughout the body, the body will fob enzymes from glands, muscles, nerves, and blood to help in the demanding digestive process. Eventually there is a deficiency of enzymes in those areas, and this, many scientists throughout the world believe, is the real cause of various allergies and diseases. According to medical research compiled by the pioneering exzymologist Dr. Edward Howell, enzyme shortages are commonly seen in a number of chronic illnesses such as allergies, skin disorders, obesity, heart disease. as well as aging and certain types of cancer. The healing power of enzymes is absolute and proven, Almost every regulatory system in our body depends on enzymes and suffers by their depletion: coagulation, inflammation, wound healing, and tissue regeneration, just to name a few. The enzyme account throughout the body is replenished by the living foods we eat as the enzymes are absorbed into the blood to reestablish normal blood-serum enzyme levels.

I hope someone will benefit from this...

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 24


I have been detoxing for the last 3 days, so I stayed in bed most of the time. I have not been eating much because I feel sick, but managed to get at least one or two green juices in a day, and a blended soup. That headache that I got after the soup the other day hasn't left and I am about ready to break out the holy water :) I wish I could tell you something great but all I really want is chocolate! I can't have my old favorite chocolate bars any more so.....

Can we say homemade raw chocolate, Ya baby! I was craving mint chocolate, and really bad. So I made some with Mercy and Zion's help. We made some hearts and balls with ground almonds.

raw cocoa butter
coconut oil
agave
honey
peppermint oil

raw cocoa powder
lucuma powder
mesquite powder
blue green algae powder
maca powder

To make chocolate you need 1/3 wet ingredients and 2/3 dry ingredients, add the wet to the dry. I didn't measure anything.
Put the wet ingredients into a pan on very low heat til melted.Then I measured, it came to 2 cups. Then I put 4 cups of dry ingredients and mixed. Easy!!! All of the powders are highly nutritious and tasty superfoods so I came out with a healthy chocolate bar. I had several pieces and guess what no headache... I usually get a headache after I eat chocolate but not with the raw stuff... YIPPEE..

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Until tomorrow

Amberlea











MERCY SAY'S HI!

Day 22...

Today I start the day with a apple,carrot,kale,and ginger juice. Zion my son loved it, but for me it wasn't enough green. We use a lot of veggies now, I never realized how much it takes for a diet like this one. I went to Heidelberg to the grocery store to restock.

Today was the start of the Christmas market in the old town. T streaming with light, the smell of the food was almost overwhelming, and all the beautiful handmade gifts were awesome. I looked in the shops and dreamed a little dream, it was fun.

I had lunch with a friend and ate a cooked vegan pumpkin soup with some croutons that was really good. I love pumpkin soup and it only comes out this time of year. You know what happened? Within 10 minutes I got a headache and its still there, my liver hurt all day and my legs are still swollen. Now why did my body get wacky on me and start to revert to the way it was? These symptoms started to go away 21 days ago except for a detox headache, but that headache was obvious to me. I have allowed myself to (when necessary) have a cooked dish as long as it was vegan. I guess that my body doesn't agree with my reasoning. This is just interesting to me. My liver ailment seems to of been on break for the last 3 weeks...that is, until today. very interesting.

Have a great day and God bless you

Until tomorrow
Amberlea

P.S. I can't fit into my clothes anymore, usually they get to small but not this time they are too big!!

Day 20 again ( I think I was off a day)

Good evening..

I slept until 2pm today, I guess I needed some healing time. I haven't accomplished much today, Probably because I slept all day. The Kids and I watched some cartoons on the computer today, it was nice to just relax with the kids instead of being stressed on how I am feeling, and getting up every 10 minutes. After 8 years of having chronic pain in my bladder I forgot what it was like just to relax. To be able to enjoy my kids without wanting to scream. I wish I would of been ready to hear about a diet like this so many years ago, in just a very short time I could have had relief. Let me tell you of the 3rd miraculous healing that had happened to me, But the 4th is another story.

I had my 3rd surgery on my bladder to stretch it, in April 2008. My favorite doctor, Dr. Tann, came in to tell us how the surgery went. With tears in his eyes he explained that he spent a long time trying to stretch my bladder, and it wouldn't stretch. He said that I had a very extreme case of IC and it would only shrink smaller and eventually I would have to have a external bladder in the near future. Well God had other plans for me. After surgery my bladder would not work I mean I could not pee. The next 23 hours were the most painful 23 hours of my life. I just had my bladder stretched about 100cc, so now it held 200cc of urine. A normal bladder holds anywhere from 1000 to 1600cc. of urine. With IC, the bladder lining is gone...it looks like bloody hamburger, with large pock marks in it. Every 30 minutes I would attempt to go to the bathroom and I was only able to pee 20-50 cc. with alot of blood. The nurses would bring into the room a bladder scanner to measure how much liquid was in the bladder and it would register at most anywhere from 160-205 cc's. We played this game for 23 hours I thought I was going to die. I thought that having to go pee every 10 minutes and the pain I was experiencing was bad. Wow I had another thing coming. 23 hours of not being able to pee, I was waiting and wanting to die. Dr. Tann came in the room and said "we are going to have to put a catheter in before the bladder explodes." (I hate catheters because they always back flush the urine back into my bladder and I can't handle that pain.) I went to try to go to the bathroom one more time. I had a very important conversation with God at that moment. I cried out to the Lord and said, Lord I thought you were going to heal me thru this surgery, You must have other plans for me. I am sorry that I told You what to do and how to do it, and if you want to heal me some other way... well, who am I to tell You, the Creator of the universe what to do. Please forgive me! Just let me pee!!! Right then, that moment, I pushed really hard and screamed in pain, I heard a ripping sound and felt it too. Something happened, I didn't pee but something painful happened. The nurses and Dr Tann came in to see if everything was alright. They did another bladder scan and my bladder stretched to 500cc's. No one could believe it except me ( because, I only knew about the prayer between me and the Lord at the time of the healing) My Husband was in the hallway and it just so happened that all the nurses that had attended me were at the nurses station right then. They were discussing how, they could have gotten all the volume tests wrong on my bladder. One said "We measured wrong 15 times, 15 times. The machine must be broken!" so they checked it out and it was working. Dr. Tann asked everyone to leave my room except Mike and I and he told us how he had seen 3 miracles in his carreer and that this was the 4th! This is medically impossible and is only by the hand of God. I had a very long recovery 6 weeks with a catheter.End of scary/wonderful/healing story!! Dr Tann and I have become friends and he is very special to me.

So have a green juice or smoothie today and feel better.

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 20

Wow I have to tell you, I woke up this morning...and wondered: "Why am I blogging? I can't write, I really don't have much to say, BUT then I was reminded I am logging my recovery and that is all that this blog is about...telling you my thoughts, what I am doing, How this is helping my life and health. Strange how having all of you reading along is helping...

I felt prompted to take my blood sugar today, which had been running: 310-325 fasting.

WOW THIS MORNING IT WAS 146 fasting!!!!!!!!!!! NOW TELL ME THAT THIS IS NOT WORKING!!!!!!!

The Fibromyalgia muscle pain is a little less and there is not so much throbbing.

Less headaches except when I am detoxing but I can tell when it is because of that.

Lost a total of 42 pounds, 33 from January and 9 from 20 days ago. YIPPEE!

Interstitial cystitis (IC): My pain has been between a 3-5 from about a 9 of a 10 scale. When someone says 10 it means there has never been any pain worse than that for them. The stinging ( most of the time! ) has gone away! I can wait to go to the bathroom for up to 50 minutes from 10-15 minutes. The pressure is still there and the bladder has not grown in capacity...but this is so exciting to me, I feel like I can function somewhat.

My liver: Well it usually swells every day, sometimes twice it's size according to the ultrasounds. Sometimes I can't move, But lately only a little uncomfortable and not unbearable pain.

The rest is the same form November 3rd post, if you want to compare.

How thrilling! I am seeing progress! Who would have thought, that the One who created our bodies...would have provided a adequate fuel for them, one that not only enhances our lives, but repairs the damages we have done to them! I have searched high and low for results like this for 8 years. It's so good to be writing this...and so good to have you share it with me...

Have a great day, I am

Until tomorrow

your Amberlea
















So

Day 19

Good evening all.

Well, how was your day today? Mine was uneventful, I am very tired today...can't seem to snap out of it. Right now I wish I was still drinking Coffee! My kingdom for a Starbucks! For now a decaf tea will do. Have you ever made your own tea concoctions. I have a book with some recipes and I make a homemade Chai tea that is almost better than coffee.

I just can't believe it is Day 19 ( and by the way I have lost 9 pounds already! ) I can't believe it! Today I made my first salad for myself with a new lettuce I haven't tried before, and really liked it. I think that besides the banana...lettuce was my most despised food. The Lord does miracles though, and now, I am eating Lettuce! I know that this sounds crazy...but I am so excited to be able to eat vegatables!

I made a fresh juice with lots of green, and my 4 year old son asked for more. It make me feel good to be able to give my kids something nutricious for them to eat AND have them like it.

I also had some avocado chocolate pudding. This is a great treat for the kids and they don't even know what is in it. Even daughter ( who is as nutrition-challenged as myself! )liked it!

1 Avocado
2 heaping/very heaping Tablespoons of Cocoa powder
1 Tbl coconut oil
some vanilla powder or extract
Agave to taste

Optional: some cashews soaked for 20 minutes, or a green powder for extra nutrition.

Thank you for keeping me company on my journey!

love

Amberlea

Day 18

Hello,Hello HEllo!!

Sorry I've been offline for so many days! Our computer is broken...please pray for our computer!! Well, today was day 18 and all is well and raw. I went shopping at the natural food co-op and found all the things that I needed to start my diet, How exciting. I started to sprout my grains and seeds, so I had them on hand to make food for the family. It takes a long time to sprout and dehydrate all that. But in the long run it will be all ready for me when I need to use it. I used to be able to eat so much food in a day and not really be satisfied. Now I am full after only a little food.

Today I had some carrots with lemon tahini dressing, Some figs and tahini, and a glass of juice, it seemed to be enough for today. Illness stalks our house this week...so my appetite it smaller today than usual.

I haven't noticed many dramatic health changes in the last few days, but my bladder is not stinging as bad as it did and that is awesome!! So for me, life is getting better. I have to say that that the green juices seem to make all the difference in how I feel. When I went to the co-op I had them make me a green juice and I chugged it down. Within 5 minutes I felt a huge bodily change in me. After being without a juice for a few days I don't want to do that again!...must...maintain...dicipline!!

Well I want to leave you with the recipe for the Lemon tahini dressing: Just so you know this doesn't have to be exact it is just a rough estimate.


LEMON TAHINI DRESSING

1 1/2 CUPS OLIVE OIL
1 CUP TAHINI OR SESAME SEEDS
1/3 CUP LEMON JUICE
1/4 CUP ONION
1/4 CUP CELERY
1/2 GREEN BELL PEPPER
1-2 GARLIC CLOVES
SPLASH OF SOY SAUCE OR TAMARI OR NAMA SHOYU
SALT/PEPPER/CUMIN TO TASTE

AND WATER TO MIX AND TO FAVORITE CONSISTENTLY:

BLEND IN BLENDER A HIGH SPEED BLENDER IS BEST.


Thanks again for walking (staggering! Careening! Crawling!) through this with me!

love,

Amberlea

I can't believe I am now eating as I have always wanted to...and I am really enjoying it! When you have a fear that has haunted you all your life and finally conquer it, well, liberation is pretty cool folks!. This process of healing, with raw foods, takes a while...no hurrying it! Testimonies I have read all said that it takes quite a while.

When I arrived home and my kids, four and six, ran up to me and said "Mommy are you going to be not sick anymore?. We have been praying for you to eat better, Are you better?" Well, holding back the tears, I said. Jesus did it in me and I am not going anywhere, I am your mommy forever and ever. My Daughter remembers coming to visit me in the hospital many, many times. She spent most of her young life worried that I wasn't going to come home to her. Now I can say for sure that I won't leave her. I never knew how much it affected her heart, worrying about me. I may complain about my body sometimes, when I am in pain. But I don't really let people know to what extent it goes. Several (4) of my diseases pain levels are compared to 1) stage four cancer 2) renal failure 3) and having surgery without anesthesia. Some days I can't even breath it hurts so bad. Pride, keeps a smile on my face when in public and until now my husband didn't even know what I was really experiencing. He can't help but worry and the stress of watching him trying 'not-to-worry' makes me sicker. So I just tell him I am ok and deal with it.

I am now 13 days raw and really feeling a difference. I had left overs from the train, and ate them today. I am missing my green juices and smoothies and notice a big difference without them. I will go to the store tomorrow and then the farmers market on Tuesday. Living in Germany is great, they always have farmers markets year around. I am praying about finding a food co-op, so I could get things in bulk and discounted. It takes alot to feed a family this way, in cost and quantity. I really need to have 1 to 2 green juices a day so I can heal. It really is the key,one juice is like having 5 big salads. I know that the Lord has called me to this and he will make a way.

Let me tell you what happened to me today.

I went with a friend to day to a shoe tent sale, I couldn't get anything but it was fun to try on shoes. I LOVE SHOES! I haven't bought myself any clothes or shoes for a year. We are missionary's on a missionary budget. So anyways, for some reason the manager of the store and myself started talking about life and Jesus. She was also a christian and we hit it off. It was time for me to go and just before I was going to thank her for the great conversation, She said that she wanted me to pick out a pair of any shoes and they were a gift from Jesus. Well, I started crying in amazement and pick out a pair of black boots. What is amazing is that I have been praying about getting a pair of black boots for a year. Every time I thought about buying a pair I would say to myself no, I can't spend support money on myself, and a want, Jesus will give me my boots when He wants me to have them. (My brown boots just last week busted a seam on the sides of both boots.) I decided to tell her of the last two weeks and what God was doing in my life. Do you know what she said, Have you heard of Hallelujah achers. I started to cry again, and explained to her my story and how I knew that the boots were from Jesus, and telling me, you did it, you concord your fear of food and was obedient to Me. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13 My Jesus is so wonderful to me, and always answers my prayers.

I will post some recipe's next week.

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 12

Want to hear something astonishing? When I travel I usually take a PB&j or get a hot dog to get my by...well not today!! Dani and I whipped up a few things and I wanted to tell you about my travel lunch and dinner for the train. I made some Lemon Tahini dressing for Carrots, sprouts and celery. A sun dried tomato pizza like sauce for my homemade veggie burgers. Some chocolate avocado pudding, homemade chocolate bar, and some fresh dates. YUMMY!!

So eating this way is not just all salads! Wow... How far I have come!!

Love Amberlea

P.S. I lost 5 pounds :)

Day 11

How are you doing today? What exciting thing happened to bring you joy, or the presence of God? Did you tell your loved ones that you love them today? Who have you thought of, and prayed for today?

Well, I am praying for you today. My friend Jayne sent me a email and I quote " You have no idea how many people your blog will eventually touch and inspire to change. I am going to post the link to your blog on WA state raw food forum...so anyone else struggling w/ this can to choose to read your journey. During your own struggles to heal your body thru raw foods you may just end up ministering to the many, many unwell out there. How awesome!"

You know I never thought of it that way. I felt that the lord prompted me to write this blog, with a few confirmations from people. All I wanted to do is tell the people I care about, that they don't have to stay the way they are, in their current health. You can always fell better. Even if you just add a green smoothie, a un-pasteurized juice, or salad to a cooked meal, your body will thank you. My whole life I have always been sick, but this week...everything has changed, my attitude about myself and how I treat others. Dani is a great mother and it made me love my kids even more watching her. With the Lord holding me up, I was able to concur my biggest fear. Eating veggies. I AM NOT FRIGHTENED OF MY FRUIT AND VEGETABLES ANYMORE!! hEH-HEH!! I came here on the train telling myself I can do this even to the point of crying (quietly of course), But I really didn't think I could. I knew that the lord said that he was going to do it for me and that is what I was/am standing on. Every thing that the lord has told me or instructed has always came true and has never failed me.

I am going home tomorrow with a whole new adventure before me. I CAN, I WILL, do this and succeed. I MUST if I want to be there to watch my kids grow up. Mike and the kids went to the store so I have food when I get home. Zion on the back of Mike's bike and Mercy on her bike, it happened to be raining. All for 1 bag of stuff. We do this 3-4 times a week. We don't have a car only bikes so all in all that includes a bike ride to and from the station (2 miles total), a train ride, a long stretch of the legs to the store(1 mile) and about a four hours time out of his day.. .. ALL FOR ME " HE LOVES ME"... ( if you think of it please pray for a car). I will be offline for two days, so I can settle in.


Today I had some Avocado chocolate pudding and 2 green juices about 30oz. Dani made a really great raw soup made from spinach and fennel it was wonderful. I got all my daily needs met and now I am going to have a dried fig and tahini, another amazing combo. For those who know my former eating habits it is truly a miracle of God at work

Until Sunday....

Amberlea

Hello all. Day 10

I just recently had a question about protein. So I wanted to address the issue. So you know I am ok, and getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals that I need. I took these articles from several sources so if you have any comments please post them. The detoxing is not as bad as I exspected, but I have had green juices and a green soup today, to ease my digestion...they were very satisfying!

"WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PROTEIN ON A DIET THAT CONTAINS NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS?" Now why would a person ask such a question? Because ever since we were children we have been taught that protein only comes from animal sources.

Here is what the American Dietetic Association currently has to say on this subject: "Plant sources of protein alone can provide adequate amounts of the essential and nonessential amino acids. . . . Conscious combining of these foods within a given meal, as a complementary protein dictum suggests, is unnecessary." And Frances Moore Lappe's updated research reveals that on a healthy, varied vegetarian diet, "Protein combining is unnecessary!"

The percentage of calories provided by protein in spinach is 49%; broccoli 47%; cauliflower 40%; lettuce 34%; peas 30%; green beans 26%; cucumbers 24%; celery 21%; potatoes 11%; sweet potatoes 6%; honeydew 10%; cantaloupe 9%; strawberries 8%; orange 8%; watermelon 8%; peach 6%; pear 5%; banana 5%; and apple 1%. Considering these figures, any nutritionist would have to agree it is very easy for a person on the Raw food Diet to obtain sufficient protein.

There are eight essential amino acids we need from food for our body to build "complete protein," and every one of these amino acids can be found in fruits and vegetables. There are many vegetables and some fruits that contain all eight essential amino acids, including carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, kale, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas.

It is unnecessary to combine foods to achieve protein completeness at each meal. The body stores and releases the amino acids needed over a twenty-four-hour period. About one-sixth of our daily protein utilization comes from recycling our own body tissue. This recycling or digesting our own cells lining the digestive tract, evens out any variation from meal to meal in amino acid 'incompleteness.' It requires no level of nutritional sophistication to get sufficient protein, even if you eat only plant foods.

Health authorities such as the World Health Organization recommend only 5 percent of calories from protein. In fact, as little as 2.5 percent of calories from protein may be all that is necessary for normal people. Regardless of the many opinions on adequate or optimal protein intake, most plant foods, except fruit, supply at least 10 percent of calories from protein, with green vegetables averaging about 50 percent. The high-nutrient diets that are plant food predominant, like I recommend, supply approximately 40- 70 grams of protein daily in the range of 1,200 to 1,800 calories per day.

*When you take in more food, you get the extra protein, extra fat, extra carbohydrates, and the extra nutrients that you need. If you loaded up the back seat of the car with huge amounts of fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, and whole grains. You ate lots of food and took in more protein (and everything else) in the process. Your protein needs increase in direct proportion to the increased caloric demands and your increased appetite. Guess what? You automatically get enough. The same is true during pregnancy.

THE MYTH OF "COMPLETE PROTEIN"

Due to lingering misinformation from a 1914 rat study, many people still believe they must eat animal products to obtain "complete protein." And for other people, this fallacy was replaced by a second inaccurate theory promoted by Frances Moore Lappe, teaching that proper food combining is necessary to obtain "complete protein" from vegetables.

Both of these theories have been unquestionably disproved because we now know people can completely satisfy their protein needs and all other nutritional requirements from a good variety of raw fruits and vegetables without worrying about proper food combining or adding protein supplements or animal products to their diet.

Most people are not aware that the nutritional learning materials used in most schools have been provided "gratis" by the meat, dairy and egg industry for over seventy years. How clever! Imagine an industry teaching every child with the idea that a person needed that industry's products in order to be properly nourished. But we have been taught this untruth because there is absolutely nothing to substantiate such teachings.The protein in the flesh or milk of an animal such as a cow, Where do they get the source of that protein? THE GRASS IT ATE!

Because much of what experts once believed about protein has been proven incorrect, U.S. government recommendations on daily protein needs have been reduced from a one-time high of 118 grams to 46-56 grams in the 1980s, and are down to the present level of 25 to 35 grams today. Many nutritionists now feel that twenty grams of protein per day are more than enough, and warn about the potential dangers of consistently consuming much more than this amount. Yet the average American still consumes over one hundred grams of protein each day.

Drastically reduced recommendations for protein consumption today are an indication that official information about protein, taught for so long to so many, including school children, doctors, and nutritionists, was incorrect. But there has been no major effort to inform the public that what we were taught has since been proven wrong. So there are large numbers of people with medical problems caused by eating more than five times as much protein as necessary, yet they still try to ensure that they get enough protein.

A good way of determining which foods provide sufficient protein is to consider recommendations on the percentage of our total calorie intake that should be made up of protein, and then determine which foods meet these recommendations. Reports in the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION say we should receive 2.5% of our daily calorie intake from protein, and that many populations have lived in excellent health on that amount.

The World Health Organization established a figure of 4.5%. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends 6%, while the National Research Council recommends 8%. The 6% and 8% figures are more than what most people need, and these higher percentages are intended as a margin of safety. But even these recommendations are met by many fruits and greatly exceeded by most vegetables. (It is interesting to note that human mother's milk is 5% protein and meets total protein needs during a child's most critical and rapid growth period.)

One of the reasons we have such low protein requirements, as noted by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond in their book FIT FOR LIFE, is that "the human body recycles seventy percent of its proteinaceous waste."

We would do better to focus on the quality, rather than quantity, of nutrients, and ensure that the protein (and other nutrients) we consume is in a natural, living form that our body can assimilate at the cellular level and use to build healthy new living cells. Hopefully this information will lay to rest any concerns about the Raw food Diet supplying sufficient protein for the body's needs, regardless of age.

The adventure continues! Thanks for joining me on it!

love amberlea

Day 8-9

Hi from Germany:

well, I am somewhat at a loss. My detox went in to high gear today, I woke up having a hard time breathing (lungs cleaning out), feeling backed-up, stuffy head, dizziness, light headed and a headache. Then danni told me it was my body is getting rid of the old waste.

Well some of you know how I despise banana's, I was never able to eat or even smell them. I had my first few bites of banana today and also some seaweed called sea spagetti. I am very proud of myself!

This is all good news. Lets talk about cells again, shall we? I am going to quote from two authors,

Fisrt quote:

"My previous diet, included an excess of cooked and processed foods, has clogged and obstructed the tissues, cells, airways, pores, organs, and bloodstream. Day after day your body was forced to find some way to use and dispose of the less-than-ideal foods. Conversely, on my new raw food diet, the strenuous time consuming demand of digesting cooked and processed food is gone. The hard working body is now free to do other things, and this is when the magic begins. My body, and the cellular level, starts to change. You are made of cells. Everything that you see externally like skin, hair, and nails, is composed of cells. And everything being housed inside you such as organs, muscle tissue, bone and blood are also made up of differently grouped cells. Because every part of you is composed of cells, it is very significant that when you switch to a raw diet, your body, on a cellular level, completely changes. You're overly fed, congested, unclean cells can finally clean house and start to dispose of all their endogenous material. The buildup of waste and gas inside a cell. As months go by you become cleaner and cleaner. Disposing of this toxic matter causes your cells to shrink and contract, and they continue to become tighter and tighter. (This is why you loose weight and your skin shrinks.) mostly from raw spirit matt monarch

Second quote:

"The regeneration of these cells,the restructuring of bone, reestablishment of proper circulation, and the renewal of every bodily function virtually changes the physical makeup of the body. That's why even terminal diseases can be turned around. But complete renewal takes time. Although the cells are constantly regenerating( giving us completely new lungs in 70 days and a new heart in 30 days.) The cell mutation and degeneration that bring on disease and ill health have their own rhythm and won't totally disappear from the cell structure when it renews itself. But on a raw food diet, the mutant weak and oxygen-starved cells slowly return to normal as each regenerative cycle passes. over the course of seven years, you have a totally new body. While the affected cells themselves are renewing, the disorder can not spread or exacerbate further because the tissues around them are no longer weak or vulnerable, they have become strong and resistant. So the cancer, or the fibroid, or the calcium deposit, or the virus, can't progress or maintain its hold in the body. " From Living foods for optimum health

until tomorrow

Amberlea

Day 5-7

Hello Friends 7 days raw now!

Did you know that yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the wall coming down, A very important day for my Germans.

In some of my posts I am adding a few facts that haven't gotten much attention. I wasn't aware of them myself until three years ago. I began to verify this info with my own research. I went to FDA, CDC websites, privately funded research and books. Much of the research is funded by the pharmacutical companys, whose bias is becoming more and more evident. On the brighter side, its hard to ignore the huge amount of evidence that naturapathic medicine works! Still, it takes a lot of time and discernment to dig through it all! "Know the truth, and the truth will set you free!" This is where the Lord come in, all we have to do is ask and we will receive.

I am sorry I have been off line for a few days. My macbook isn't working please pray for our sick laptop!

Well last night I had my first spinach salad in my life and really liked it. I am so excited because I always wanted to be able to eat a salad when I went out to eat. I have never been able to do that before, can you believe that?? With the lords help we can do anything. I also had a raw avocado,spinach soup that was great. The last few days have been some amazing changes with my body. I listed all my illnesses on the very first post called " Day 1 the day is here" ( I changed a few things as I went through my doctor records, go back and read it if you like.) Most of the positive results, have been with the Fibromyalgia and Interstitial cystitis (IC) My bladder usually has pressure, pain and stinging. Well the stinging has gone from a 9 to a 4 and that is amazing to me! Some days I would just put a smile on my face so no one knows what pain i am feeling. I would go somewhere and cover my mouth and scream just for a release. It helps! I usually get up to go the the bathroom 11-20 times a night just to relieve the stinging and the last 2 nights it has been only around 8-10 times. The pressure is still there and some stinging but I am happy for the improvement. The Fibromyalgia is getting better also. My muscles pain is getting a little better. I was able to get a massage from Dani again with alot of pain but i was still able to be touched. That is a miracle to me. My sleep also has improved ( most likely because of less interuption ) but my REM sleep is much deeper. People who have been healed from fibromyalgia on the raw diet have said it only takes a 3-6 months, how exciting for me!

Believe it or not ( remember that show? ) The diet that I am now on, is absent or low in complex fats, proteins, salt, refined sugars, dairy and wheat products. This diet follows the largest guidelines of major medical universities and the U.S. Government for reducing chronic disease.

Without healthy cells we are not healthy! I am learning a great deal about cell structure and health, so bear with me. I have never truly cared about my cells or as a whole, my body. When I was a teen or a young adult I thought I was healthy and invincible. Well I was wrong. That is why I am making such a change. And because if I don't, I will die. The Lord has shown me that my body is going to shut down because of my current health problems if I didn't make such a change. Fruit and veggies in the raw organic form are full of enzymes which give life to the cells. Simple strategy, and we often reject them for just that reason "It can't be that simple!"

"Why does your body degenerate,mutate, and die? Because they are not fed properly. That may sound to simplistic an answer to the question of life and death, but it's fact.

"The hope of health, lies in the health of the cells. Not only do raw foods give our body's cells the Vitamins, minerals and proteins it needs to be healthy, but they also supply the oxygen, enzymes, alkalinity, and bio-electrical changes so vital to cellular health that no other foods offer."

---Brian R. Clement director of Hippocrates health institute.

Hippocrates Health institute has a healing rate of 98% of there 5000 visitors a year. The diseases that come to them range from all types of cancer, fibromyalgia, lupus, TB, Diabetes, the list is miles long and covers all my diseases. I was once very closed minded about this sort of thing, too far out there for me, going against everything I was taught and knew...but research, the leading of the Lord, the endless ( un-biased ) testimonies of the people who I met, healed from asimple diet of raw food, were overwhelming. God would bring people into my path just to tell me of their stories. I realized that the way I was going about things or what someone with a plaque on the wall told me, Wasn't working. So I took my health in to my own hands, I would pray and ask for a direction or an answer to a question, and it would just happen! You know that there were other things that I wanted to research or learn about, but the Lord said "No Amberlea that is not what I have for you." The lord guided me to this and so I know he is in it. He has been faithful to protect me from the things that not of Him...and this is no different. All I know is that this type of diet gives results, and I am starting to experience them myself.

until tomorrow.

Amberlea

Day 3-4

I am excited about what I am doing, I invite you to sign up as a follower so you can be excited with me.

The last two days have been very positive. When you change your diet from a standard American diet to a mainly raw food diet you can expect to experience all kinds of detox and withdrawal symptoms, as your body clears out all the old junk. Some of the symptoms that I am experiencing are, running nose, headaches, earaches, soft stool. My liver is hurting a little more than usual, it to must be detoxing. On the other hand there has been very positive things that have been going on. Dani is a massage therapist and gave me a massage, which was great! Not very painful atleast compared to normal. Normally even clothes can’t touch my skin and muscles; everything hurts (the fibromyalgia). The thing that I am so excited about is; my bladder stinging is less painful! Because of my interstitial cystitis my bladder is in constant pain; pressure, bleeding, puss and stinging. I have to go to the bathroom every twenty minutes durning the day, just to stop the horrible stinging. But now in the last two days I can wait for up to an hour, much progress and I am excited!

My body must be changing from an acidic state to more of an alkaline one. People who are on a typical American diet usually have a PH of around 3-5 but when you start to eat foods with their enzymes in them you become more alkaline. In case you don’t know about the Ph scale, it is where you measure your acidic/alkaline levels. Another way to say it is how much oxygen you have in you cells. All disease thrives in the acidic state 0-7. When you start to move closer to the alkaline state 7.2-14, your body starts to heal and become disease free. For instance they first discovered it when they took some cancer cells and healthy cells in a laboratory dish and flooded it with oxygen, the cancer cells died immediately and the healthy ones got stronger.

Yesterday I had a very healthy Kale salad with lemon, garlic and salt. It was hard to get down at first, but I was brave and at the end I was happy I tried and ate it. We also had some raw pizza and it was amazing. I didn’t realize that raw gourmet food was so yummy. Later when I get home I will post some pictures of the food we ate.

All this is amazing to me, All my doctors, (I have had many) have told me that for all my diseases there was no cure or much they could do. Except to give me drugs and advice on how to deal/live with the pain. They said that my case was one of the worst they have seen with every disease I was at the top of the charts with symptoms and pain level. Not just one Doctor but also all of them said this, but not one said anything about an extreme diet change would heal me. I was told that I would have to stop eating certain foods or do the fibromyalgia diet or the Atkins diet for help. I did do it for two years with no relief. I know so many people who have gone that route for years and are still are so sick and suffering from the pain. It doesn’t seem to be the answer to me. On the other hand I have met just as many people and read hundreds more testimonies of people who went on the raw food diet and were healed in such a short time of all the diseases that I have. I guess the doctors didn’t know about the raw food diet for healing. I didn't know either, The Lord had to speak to my heart to let me know there was another way. I am not mad at them and I have learned so much about myself and things of the Lord that I would not change it for the world. But on the other hand I could have been living a normal life and done so many things. I had to stay at home for four years and couldn’t leave my couch because of the pain of the fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis and lupus. You know I must have not been ready to make such a drastic change as this one.

Up until three years ago I solely listened to my doctors and did everything in my power to honor their advice. Took all the medications (14) (I didn’t start to take to meds until 2008 (except the diabetic meds)until my doctors gave me five years to live and they said that the meds might prolong my life a few years but not much better quality), did the exercises, ate the high protein low carb diets, went to the chiropractor, massage therapist twice a week, did the physical therapy, had the many surgeries (5), and stayed in the hospital for weeks at a time. Then in January of 2007 I was praying for Gods will, and what to do about my illnesses. He spoke to me clear as day to “GO RAW” What does that mean I asked. He started to lead me on the journey of my life. From then on every day he would instruct me to do things different. I met a wonderful woman named Jayne by chance who started me on the right road. She told me about what meat really does to the body and how it makes you acidic and that you can’t heal in an acidic state. From there God spoke to me to do different things and look outside of the box of what I had learned so far. To trust him and what he was pointing me to do and trust Him alone. He also lead me to a Christian website called Hallelujah aches at www.haches.com I learned so much and read so many testimonies of healing. Healing in such a short time, amazing. Now three years later I know so many things about the body and what causes disease. It has truly changed my life. God told me to go on the raw diet years ago but I wasn’t ready to I guess. The whole thing of hating my fruit and veggies thing. Although, in those 3 years I have learned so much to prepare me for this. I have come so far though. I was told that this was so extreme, but to me...extreme is doing the same thing, time and again...and expecting a different outcome.

Until tomorrow

Amberlea

DAY 2

On my way…Wow I am finally on my way. I got up early for the first time in my life, ( just kidding ) Mike took me to the train station and I caught the earlier train to my first connection. Praise the Lord I did, because I would of missed my train. This is my first trip up to Northern Germany it is so beautiful. Fall is my favorite time of the year, the changing colors, a chance for me to change! I can’t believe how much I have come to Love Germany, everything about it, the people, my church, the weather, the countryside, Mercy’s school, my neighbors, the German efficiency and cleanliness. The German system works. Of course every system has its faults but it works for me and I get it. Es ist wunderbar!!

Here,I have grown in the Spirit, Love for Jesus and a closer relationship with Him, love for my family, time for my kids, a clearer understanding of missions. I have always had a heart for missions, but now I am learning it, living it! My health is so much better than ever before, from the time I got sick. I still have a long way to go, but I am on the right track now.

I am not the 'Name-it-claim-it-speak-it-freak-it' type...but, when I pray, I know that Jesus will answer it in some form or another. He is faithful! So, I was praying for a clinic that would help me get on my raw food diet/lifestyle. A place where they prepare all the food, teach me how to also. Someone or some place that had experience with people who had multiple-immune disorders. I wanted to learn techniques to stretch my muscles ( the Fibromyalgia. ) Instruction in how to diagnos changes in my body, to conquer my addiction on cooked foods. Just in case you don’t know that cooked food is an addiction, IT IS. It is the hardest one to overcome.

Diabetics will eat themselves in to a coma, before they will give up their sweets or carbs. Overeaters or overweight people will die before the stop eating fast food. People with allergies won’t stop eating the things that are making them sick. And Me I couldn't stop eating cooked food to save my life. But God it seems, has decided to keep me alive, for His will in my life, and for my family.

About the answered prayer. Mike and I were praying about a place in Florida called Hippocrates health institute. http://hippocratesinst.org/ that has a high success rate of healing anything from Cancer, Fibromyalgia to Diabetes ( including the other Diseases that I have.) They put you on a tailored raw food plan and guide you in your healing process. Across the board...raw foods are the only thing that consistantly drive these remmision. But God had different plans.

My friend and raw food coach Daniela Ploetz gave me a call and invited me to come stay with her for a few weeks to learn all I can from her and get started on my Raw life. We have been trying to get together for a visit sense February this year. She has worked with Gabriel Cousens in Arizona...doing exactly what I was praying for. She only lives about 5 hours from me by train near Berlin. The Lord answers prayer in amazing ways. Exactly what I was praying for and 3 days later she called. What timing,

In January I stopped taking all my 14 medications, stopped eating all animal products and all Dairy products. I had a 2-month detox from the meds, but when it was over I felt 30% better. Wow all those drugs were making me feel sicker. My blood sugar dropped 150 points in 3 days. I also lost 33 pounds. It truly was awesome to feel and look so much better. I have been meat and med free for 11 months now and loving it. ( if you know me at all, i only ate meat most day 4-5 times a day. That is a miricle in itself) As for the dairy I couldn’t give up the cheese for long. I started to get so much better then I fudged on one bite of cheese and it was all over. I can tell a big difference and don’t feel as well as I did in March. Although I did several positive things for my health I didn’t do the most important thing and begin eating raw fruits and vegetables, and stop the cooked foods. I so struggle with this. I can’t do it on my own, in my own strength. That is where Jesus comes in, He is my strength and I can do all things with His help.



DAY 1

I arrived at the station and received a warm welcome with Dani. I have never met Dani, just over the phone and email so it was great to see her face to face. The country is so beautiful here in Eastern Germany. We arrived to her home and got settled in. She made me this veggie plate with a lemon Tahiti dressing that was amazing.

All Raw and good for me. That’s a first, I loved the sprout, carrots, and celery but not the cucumber. What an exciting day to do something that I haven’t been able to do before. I am excited.

DAY 2

Wow I haven’t slept better in so many years it was great. I only went to the bathroom around 11 times. That may seem like a lot but for me it is an improvement. We had Raw soaked rolled oats with fruit and hemp milk. It was really satisfying to my surprise.
All this is so new to me, what have I been missing for 35 years? I don’t even want to think about it. It is the past and this is my future. My body is going to heal the healthy way and Jesus will be glorified. I noticed that my liver started to hurt in the middle of the day after I had some raw chocolate cake. My body is so sensitive that I feel the smallest pain. I just never could tell what it was that was setting it off

For dinner we had a salad with sprouts, guacamole & beet chips.
Its was a little hard to get down because I haven’t had this before, but all in all it was ok. I have had some detox systems already how, exciting. When you eat cooked and processed foods that provide your body with little or no nutrients your body holds on to the toxins within fat cells. Holding on to the fat ( and making you fat in the process!) is the way the body protects itself. Instead of allowing the poison into the blood stream and through the organs. When you stop eating in such a way and start to eat more healthy food. (for me that is a 95% raw food diet) Your body will start to release the toxins and fat cell ( along with colonic debris is swept out and released. It can take many months or years for your body to release all the toxins it has stored up in your muscles, organs, bones, and fat. All the toxins are what cause disease and illnesses. With all the bad things I have put into and done to my body it is no wonder why I am so full of disease. You know you can have a very healthy diet and still have unhealthy cells and be sick. Cells are what we are made of. Going through the detox process is exciting for me, as I know in the end I will feel so much better. Eating the food I grew up on hurts my body. How hard is it to stop what I am so used to doing...and how difficult to do what I know will heal me!

Most all of my diseases are Autoimmune and it is said within the naturopathy realm that Autoimmune should be renamed nutrient deficiency disease. So it high time that I put nutrient filled food into my body to heal it. When I first go sick 12 years ago and diagnosed 8 years ago with my first known disease Diabetes. The Lord spoke to me and said that he was going to heal me of all my disease. Little did I know, that before the healing would begin, I would have to endure 8 years of pain, which would send me running to the Lord constantly for help and guidance! ( good traning! ) It has been a long road with many operations, hospital stays, times away from my family. In January 2007 God had me follow the raw food path...three years of obstinate refusal later...I finally folded! It is time to follow His leading. It comforting to know that the God who created my body is going to guide me through the process of healing it!

Until tomarrow
Amberlea

November 3, 2009 Day 1

The day is here, enough of wasting time. My time, Gods time and my family’s time. I am sick and dying, According to all my doctors. I was given 5 years to live summer 2008. I have made poor choices when it comes to taking care of my body and (my family’s for that matter). We have been given a gift of life and we are to be good stewards of the gift. I have not, I have abused my body from the time I was a teenager, drugs, sex, bad eating habits, stress, just to name a few. Well, as for the sex and the drugs, I changed my beliefs and lifestyle. I met Jesus and He changed my life in so many ways, I am so thankful for my life and ( through Him ) all it has to offer.

I should first tell you of the path I have been led to. The eating of Raw Food, what does that mean? Cutting out all cooked food, processed food, white sugar, bread, flour, everything except for raw fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and some grains. Now don’t worry, there are so many ways to mimic cooked food on Raw, Desserts are plentiful (some of which are to die for!) So much more yummy than brownies which are my favorite.

I grew up with divorced parents and had to take care of myself from a young age. I never had good eating habits. I didn’t like most all vegetables or fruits. Although, I liked potatoes, and corn. When I was 13 years old, I was introduced to artichokes and mayo, yummy. In January 2007 I heard the voice of the Lord, He confirmed my need to go raw, and (The Lord is wonderful! Ask…He always answers! ) from that time until now, November 2009 I have been eating several new vegetables. Brussels sprouts, asparagus, celery, apples, onions, garlic, dates, dried fruit. I know this is silly to most of you, but I have always struggled with this area of my life, a real fear with panic attacks and all. We all have our issues in life and for me this is an area of complete disaster. I have made my body the way it is for lack of nutrition. I have taught my children very bad habits, instead of a love for good, healthy food. Food that will keep them healthy and disease free.



Well I want to list what is going on with my body just to get it out of the way. So you know why such a change is required. I have been diagnosed with the following and also some of the symptoms. Just a note all of my Diseases are Autoimmune except my Liver Disease, which is Terminal. (The liver is the only organ in the body if given the right tools can regenerate itself)The reason I am listing all the things I go through is because I want you and me to know of all the things I have been healed of. I know that all of these will go away given time, and the right tools my body needs. All these diseases are INCURABLE according to modern medicine. The only thing they can do is give you drugs for the symptoms and pain killers. I have been diagnosed with these by several medical doctors, and have seen specialist for each one. Several of these are compared with 1)stage four cancer 2)renal failure 3) being stabbed with a knife and having surgery awake.


*Diabetes type 2 with a fasting of 310. Also the Autoimmune type

*Fibromyalgia, chronic muscle pain which includes burning,throbbing, shooting, or stabbing in the muscle fibrous tissue,fatigue, headaches, IBS,TMJ,chemical sensitivity,sleeping disorder called alpha-EEG anomaly

*Lupus SLE, which attacks my Pancreas, Spleen, Heart, and Liver. The symptoms for me are the classic butterfly rash on the face, mouth ulcers, easy bruising, hair loss, joint pain/swelling, muscle aches/tenderness (also caused by the fibro), fevers, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, dry eyes, memory loss, swollen legs,arms and feet, swelling of the organs and pain in the organs.

*Hashmoto’s disease, A Auto-Immune Thyroid disorder. sensitivity to cold,weight gain, puffy face, hoarse voice, muscle weakness, joint pain, dry skin.

*Endometriosis: the uterine tissue detaches itself from the uterus, moves to other places and attaches itself to other organs or body tissue. Symptoms are spontaneous bleeding, scarring, excruciating pain.

*Sjogren's syndrome, swollen salivary glands, skin rashes,persistent dry cough

*Interstitial Cystitis, A Auto- Immune Bladder Disease that eats the lining of the bladder, shrinks the bladder and causes Hunner's ulcers . Currently I have to urinate every 20 minutes (about 2oz) and I am in constant pain of a level of about 9 most days.

*Vulvodynia, Autoimmune. Here is a website for info http://vulvalpainsociety.org/index.php?page=vulvodynia

* IBS cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation.

*A Liver Disease that is killing my liver for which my Doctors gave me 5 years to live. Some times it swells up 2 times it size and I can't move or breathe it is horrible. I am sorry I can't remember the name, but I will look it up in my records

*Breast tumors 1 large (4 inches in diameter) and several pea size ones, extreme pain

*Over Weight, I am currently 75 kilos. I have already lost 33 pounds as a result of diet change and exercise.

The symptoms that go along with all this are:

Swelling of the liver spleen and pancreas, Fatigue, weakness, fevers, nausea, Stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, Sun sensitivity, Hair loss, Headaches, Dizziness, fainting, Muscle spasm, Memory loss, getting up at night anywhere from 11 to 22 times a night, insomnia, swollen/tender glands, Excessive thirst, shortness of breath, swollen legs and feet, pain in chest, Brest (tumor) pain, difficulty in swallowing, dry mouth, nosebleeds, ringing in ears, grey hair, hearing loss, Miscarriages 6-8, blurry vision, joint pain/swelling, Chronic back pain, skin rashes, persistent dry cough,hoarse voice, puffy face, weather sensitivity,TMJ, dry eyes and mouth, Muscle tremors in hands, legs and face,cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation, swollen liver, spleen and pancreas

Up until January 2009 I was taking 14 prescription medications, heavy drugs with sever side affects. The doctors said they would prolong my life a few years and help with the pain. Well they didn’t help with the pain and made me sicker.

I am sure I forgot a few things but you get the idea. So I will attempt to write a journal of what is going on with my body the good and the bad. What my thoughts are and how I am feeling emotionally and spiritually. I know the God has told me to do that and that he is the one who does the healing.

I invite you along on this journey of healing with me

Love Amberlea