life lessons

Did I mention that I found out I have the skin version of Celiac Disease?  It's called DH for short. This is my self diagnosis.  I haven't been officially diagnosed yet.  But the cause is gluten and the result is excruciatingly painful blisters on an isolated spot in the body.  For me being my hands.  As I've eliminated all these things from my diet I have healed my hands. I have an almost instant reaction (basically overnight) to anything I eat.  So it's pretty clear what is a culprit and what isn't.  I have additional allergies to dairy, corn, and nuts.  Although I haven't tried all nuts.  
A friend of mine brought over a whole gluten-free care package. How sweet is that!?  She made me two loaves of this rice bread. I couldn't wait for the picture I had to take a bite first. It was really good.  I ate two pieces.  I had known that she was a really healthy eater, I just hadn't known why.  

I made this discovery last Saturday.  Which probably contributed significantly to my ultra bad day.  I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  It's a lot overwhelming. But I'm trying to move past it and just get healthy. 

I went through a difficult trial a few years ago and felt really sorry for myself for a long time. After it was over I realized all I could have learned from it.  So I made a pact with myself not to wait for the end of something difficult to realize the good that could be learned from the situation.  One thing I have learned from this is the importance of asking questions to get answers.  You really can't get answers if you aren't persistent.  I started having symptoms for this almost 6 years ago. Right after Olivia was born.  I thought it was severe eczema due to the increase in hand washing. Or perhaps a soap allergy.  In the past 6 years I have tried everything in relation to my own original conclusion.  No one offered me a different solution. Not even a dermatologist.  But the responsibility is my own. And I never once opened my mind to alternative ideas regarding the matter.  I am a Relief Society teacher in my church.  This last Sunday's lesson just reiterated to me the importance of meditation and prayer.  Sometimes I feel like in the journey of life I'm a slow learner.  Somehow it takes me years to figure things out.  I am so grateful for the loving care of a Heavenly Father. I feel that He tenderly teaches me through my life's trials and triumphs.  I'm grateful to have learned something new. Something my body has been screaming at me for 6 years. I finally listened. Finally got the message.    Figuring out the specifics will apparently be a life long journey.  But I'm sure it will be worth it. It already is.  I wish I could explain better how spiritual this whole ordeal is for me.  I guess it's just another very real example of how sometimes doing the more difficult thing is actually easier.  Although there is a mourning period for the loss of old behaviors (popcorn and a movie).  But now that I have the knowledge I can't not live this way.  Now that I know that something I thought of as normal is causing me significant pain, I can't not live the way I now know is right.  I know there will be a transition period that will be difficult. Learning the new behaviors (how to make gluten- free cookies) will be a process of trial and error, but in the end it will be worth it!  My quality of life just sky rocketed.