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We Need Your Prayers

Almost two years ago Bob woke up pretty much blind. With no medical insurance and losing his job with little hope of finding a new one due to his eye problems the last two years have not always been easy. We have continued to believe that it’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters and have tried to look on the positive side of things.

Once Bob qualified for Medicare in November doctors stopped not being interested because it was “just his eyes” and a whirlwind of referrals and diagnoses began. Just before Christmas we were told he had glaucoma, then a week later a pituitary tumor. Three doctors now agree that there is a pituitary tumor. Whether any of the other things we were told were accurate, we have no way of knowing. The large tumor is pressing on the optic chiasma presumably causing the vision problems. We are being given no options but surgery and are being pressured to have this done right away. This is a serious surgery with serious risks.

So let’s just say we need your prayers. A church prayer chain that reached around the world saved my life years ago as doctors were encouraging my family to end life support, so I know the power of prayer. Please join me in prayer and if anyone knows of alternative treatments for this type of tumor please let us know. You may use the contact form on the About page to contact us.

Healthy Living A to Z: B is for Buckwheat

A Bowl of Cooked Buckwheatat Copyright R. A. Robbins 2013 — A Bowl of Cooked Buckwheat
Copyright R. A. Robbins 2013

Despite its name, buckwheat is a seed from a plant related to rhubarb. Buckwheat does not contain gluten and according to the Celiac Disease Foundation may be safely consumed by individuals with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Address any concerns about cross contamination with the manufacturer or distributor of specific products.

Hulled seeds of the buckwheat plant are called groats and make a nice hot cereal. Buckwheat flour is ground buckwheat. Light buckwheat flour is made from hulled buckwheat seeds and dark buckwheat flour includes the hulls.

Buckwheat ranks low on the glycemic index. It is also high in fiber, protein, niacin, amino acids, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and calcium and is a complete protein. Research points to various health benefits including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

I use buckwheat flour as a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour in baked goods such as cakes and cookies. Buckwheat flour does have a strong flavor. Using half buckwheat flour and half of a flour with a more neutral flavor will help with this.

Read labels of commercial products containing buckwheat flour carefully. Soba noodles and buckwheat pancake mixes often include wheat flour as well.

I hope you will get to know buckwheat. It can be a good way to add variety and fiber to your diet.

Thought for Today

“That which you worship with your time, money, energy and attention becomes your god.” — Jean Bryant [Source: Stop Improving Yourself and Start Living]

Thought for Today

Road to Denali - Mountains - Alaska — Road to Denali – Mountains – Alaska (Photo credit: blmiers2)

“What is called ‘conversion’ is not the end of the road. Maybe it is simply finding a road on which to travel. To Jesus, religion was not simply a way of believing or worshipping, it was a way of living.” — Eric Butterworth [Source: Discover the Power within You]

Thought for Today

“I used to believe that we must choose between science and reason on one hand, and spirituality on the other, in how we lead our lives. Now I consider this a false choice. We can recover the sense of sacredness, not just in science, but in perhaps every area of life.”— Larry Dossey, M.D. [Source: Reinventing Medicine]

Thought for Today

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.” —

John Wesley

[Source: Letters (1915), Rule of Conduct]

Thought for Today

Wild Flowers Copyright 2013 by R.A. Robbins — Wild Flowers
Copyright 2013 by R.A. Robbins

“To see World in a Grain of Sand,

And Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,

And Eternity in an hour.”

— William Blake [Source: Auguries of Innocence]

Thought for Today

“For renewal of human values and attainment of lasting happiness, we need to look to the common humanitarian heritage of all nations the world over.” — His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama of Tibet [Source: A Human Approach to World Peace]

Thought for Today

“The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.” ~Michael Josephson