1 Year Today

One year ago today I was standing in a cold German hospital, putting on the 2nd of my 4 layers of warm clothing, when a doctor handed me his card with "Coeliac Disease" written on it.  He told me that he didn't speak my language enough to explain the disease, and that I was to go home and do the research on how to live with it.  Ever since then, I've been researching and learning to deal with it.  

Christmas Day 2011:  my son caught me unaware

My husband reminded me this morning that late last December I had told him that I didn't know why, but 2011 was going to be a significant year for me.  I had been "discussing" life with God, and that's what the final verdict was that we came up with.  I told my husband so that he could be my witness, and true to his role, he reminded me this morning.  He also reminded me that I made it a whole year, and that I survived.  I did.  I threw out a lot of failed baking, I threw up a lot of what I thought was safe to eat, and I grew up from a baby Celiac to one who is able to advise with confidence.

white water rafting in Nth Sulawesi

My annual Celiac highlights?  Our family trip to North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where I discovered that I could indeed travel beyond the comforts of my own home.  I just need to bring a long a few of my own foods and snacks, and to communicate well with those who are feeding me.  Heading home to Canada was huge for me.  I found a bit of heaven there in both restaurants that cater to those with specific food needs, and in the grocery stores built just for people like me.  Mostly, I've found incredible joy and encouragement through friends (and family when in Canada) who know I'm coming to an event and they bring something with me in mind, or they invite me over for a meal of some kind.  I grew up surrounded with the theme that 'food is love', and I think it's something I'll never be able to unlearn.  I have just had to alter the delivery a bit.

my family 2011

I'm thankful for the challenges I've gone through this year.  I may not be stronger physically, but I believe I am emotionally.  There are days when I want to just curl up, and there are others where I live in denial, waiting for the day I can just sit down to a regular meal with my family, or order up some burgers and fries for delivery.  Mostly, though, my days are full of thankfulness that I know what to avoid, that there continues to be a growing number of options available for me here in Indonesia, and that I am alive and healthy.