 |
|
|
|
|
Kristi & Kids Foundation, Inc.
|
|
Newsletter Archives
|
|
|
|
June 2008
|
|
|
Encouraging  Overcoming Obstacles Whether you're currently dealing with a major health
issue for you or your child or you're in the midst of treatment and recovery. . .are you feeling overwhelmed yet?
If you aren't yet, you likely will at some point. Why? Because any health challenge can weigh you down.
Treatment and recovery, whether it's to lose weight with a new diet and exercise routine or learning that your child has
20 new food allergies to somehow eliminate from his / her diet, can take you down roads with major Michigan type pot holes.
Proverbs 24:16 has been an inspiration to me, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the
wicked shall fall into mischief [adversity, affliction]". So it's okay to fall we just have to be sure to get
up again. Now that's the real question. How does one get back up?
Three ways I've found
to lift me up when I've fallen down are: seeking God each morning, being transparent with trusted friends who will
pray and bring me back into the light of hope, and acknowledging and confessing any bitterness I experience. Then I thank
God for the issues I have before me knowing that all things work together for good. Sometimes just one of these can
get you over the hump or bump. But sometimes it takes a few days and the combination of all of them to kick start your
engine and get you back on the road again.
A few cautions-first be sure you are reading and receiving
God's input more that you are dishing out your issues. Sometimes we talk (pray for ourselves) so much and miss hearing
just what we need from God. Second, when speaking with friends, they must be on board with you and your journey to health
and healing. Sometimes, it's newer friends who become your trusted ones as you run this race to health for you or
your child. It's not that you ditch your other family and friends; it's simply that they may not understand
and thus may hinder your progress especially when you are down. Surround yourself with those who are your cheerleaders
and will lift you up to run the race before you. Then you can be who you need to be around your family and friends who
may not understand but will eventually gain your respect as they see the progress you are making. Remember to keep your
expectations from God and not others so you do not become bitter if those you think should be your support and understanding
fail to fill that role. Lastly, acknowledging how easy it is to get caught up in the "why me" syndrome is
important. For when you encounter challenges in health, especially ones that were a result of someone's mistake,
especially with your child, it's easy to feel like a victim. However, Christ is our strength and our example during
times like this. I rely on Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."
Trusting
also, that all things work together for good is vitally important to remember. For me, if my son had not been inflicted
with Autism severe enough to warrant institutionalizing, I never would have been motivated and embarked upon the journey I
did to keep him out of an institution. This journey led us not only to his recovery from Autism, but my own recovery
from Lupus, which meant no longer living with pain, lethargy, and many hospitalizations. Also, the recoveries for my
other children from asthma, eczema, ADHD and allergies have been tremendous.
As we walk with the obstacles
in our lives let's remember to overcome through the Lord rather than be overcome and without hope. It's not
easy but nothing good and lasting ever is. However, the sweet victory in each step of progress is worth every bit of
effort made. You will not regret pushing forward while running the race to the finish line. You can do it!
Stay focused and remember: God first, Trusted friends, Defeat bitterness. You will win the race-just don't
give up.
|
|
 Adapting to Adjustments
I am often asked many questions when it comes to
making changes in one's life while dealing with and recovering from various health issues. One of the first questions
I am asked is, "How do I make all the necessary adjustments needed in our life to accommodate this protocol to treatment
and recovery?" We must first address the fact that adjustments have already been made and will continue to be made
dealing with the health issue at hand. Whether it's adjusting your lifestyle to the pain you may deal with or having behavioral
issues with a child that dictate what you do, you are inadvertently adjusting and accommodating your life already. For
instance, when my son suffered with Autism and dealt with severe breakdowns many times a day, it was impossible to take him
grocery shopping. So during this time we accommodated this invasion of autism into our lives by adjusting how to obtain
groceries. Others would either shop for me or would watch my son so I could go without him. That was the adjustment
to accommodate dealing with autism for this need. When we look at achieving optimum health for ourselves
or that of our child, we must understand and accept that we need to make adjustments in our life. These are self initiated
adjustments most often. So our focus must be on the future benefit. An athlete training for an Olympic Medal will
train for years and endure hours of pain, overcoming, and commitment for a future achievement. It is a similar focus
when we are embarking upon a lifestyle change. Whether it is with the addition of supplements, dietary adjustments or
an exercise routine, our focus must be for the future benefit. In this way when we cannot always see immediate progress
we can stay the course because we know our goal is the future promise, not the immediate pleasure. Since
we live in such a feel-good, immediate gratification society, we must break the cycle of giving up and giving in to pressures.
Instead, we must persevere. Galatians 6:9 says, "Do not grow weary in well doing for you shall reap if you faint
not."
|
|
Educating
Where do I start? What do I do?Do you ever attend a conference,
read an article or search the web to enhance your understanding in a particular area only to feel overwhelmed with your research
and findings? All this information accumulated you may ask, "now what do I do, where do I start, how do I
follow through"? These are common questions whether you are researching for yourself, a loved one or even for your
profession. With the information technological era we live in, sifting through it all is the time intensive aspect,
taking effort and energy causing many to quit before they begin to make progress. The most important facet to
consider is that simply by taking the initial step to research you have made a huge step in the right direction. Many
people rely on the 'experts' to 'tell' them what to do. Those experts come from various resources, from
advertisers on television to scientists and doctors. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I was ever given on this
subject I've been able implement is this, you are your own and your child's best advocate. You have insight
others in any profession simply cannot have because they are not in your body or with your child all the time like you
are. So what do you do? First, when researching check the sources to verify if they come from
reputable places rather than being a complaint web-page or off-the-wall statement. Next, pray for wisdom. I have
found that to be the best source of gaining understanding and insight with abounding information. Finally, lay out what
you read and choose a starting place. In our plight against autism it was often one step forward and three steps back.
But each step back is still a vital piece in the puzzle-knowing what is not working allows you to check it off the list.
At the same time, you must fully commit to any change moving forward so you are certain you've mastered the change at
hand correctly. For example, we first implemented a dairy free diet for my son with autism. We
saw almost immediate results. So I then added the gluten free diet but after six months I really didn't notice any
measurable change and wondered if it was worth the work. About the time I was going to stop that diet, I researched
harder on the subject and got some coaching from experts and learned that the rice milk I had been using had traces of gluten
in it. We removed that, although I still couldn't finger substantial improvements we maintained the diet.
The experts kept saying it was important. Since recovery, we clearly see how even traces of gluten cause our son
to regress in many areas with focus, hyperactivity and sensory issues. Had I not researched and discovered the error
in our gluten free diet and maintained it even though the results did not seem measurable ~ I would have written off something
that truly did impact my son's recovery. Lastly, without daily charting specific information [sleep cycles,
supplements, dietary changes, other interventions, etc.] I never would have been able to figure out what was working and to
what degree.
|
|
New Free Conference Calls "Ask Kristi & Kids" Beginning Thursday June 12. 2008 at 9:00 PM (EST) we will be launching
our free "Ask Kristi & Kids" conference calls. A new topic will be focused on each week. Listen
in as Kristi shares insight, then opens the lines for Q & A, which will give you a chance to ask your important questions
live. Keep the number handy and sign up early. Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-1699
Participant Access Code: 918006# June Topics Covered: June 19, 2008
Dietary Transitions; Making it work!
June 26, 2008
Acceptance of Life's
Trials
Autism: Recovery Against All Odds
 My book, Autism: Recovery Against All Odds, is now available on our website, www.KristiandKids.org. The feedback from readers is that the word Autism can be replaced with any other word, from cancer to life
in general. Since my hope upon writing the the book was to help people persevere through the strength of the Lord, this
feedback has been a huge encouragement. Speaking in various venues has been another huge blessing. We are very
open to speaking in your area. Please contact us now to book your event.
Links to Additional Information in Our Website
|
|
Enter supporting content here
2008 Copyright by Kristi & Kids Enterprises,
LLC
|
|
|
