Friday, January 4, 2013

2013 - The Year We've Been Waiting For!

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and that you are feeling full and inspired for this wonderful new year ahead.  As a friend posted to inspire anyone feeling a little nervous about the much-maligned number 13...

As we embark on 2013, remember that the number 13 was considered a lucky number when our nation was founded. There were 13 original colonies represented by 13 stripes on our flag and also referenced throughout our patriotic symbols on other ways - be on the lookout for them. When George Washington attended an event, 13 toasts were always given to honor the General, making for some drawn out evenings according to his contemporaries!

Or for a more international inspiration, look to the Chinese who consider the number 13 to be a very lucky number.

So what is in store for this year and why have I been totally MIA for almost six months of online blogging?

First, I am really excited about a pilot study (four children with autism) that seeks to replicate the results our family has had on a combined low oxalate + specific carbohydrate/GAPS diet.  Really excited.  The food will be prepared by a wonderful chef in Richmond (big shout out to Todd Johnson at Mezzanine) and researchers will track a multitude of observational criteria over a five month period of time that will include two food challenges (foods not on the proscribed diet).  I'll write more about this in another post.

Second, we have sold our home and are camping out with both sets of parents (decidedly NOT where I thought I would be living the year I turned 40, particularly when my husband still has a job - LOL).  We have one more home to sell (long story) before we are completely foot loose and fancy free and we hope to get that on the market this spring.

We have spent the past year dreaming of the kind of supportive environment we wish had been available when we undertook this lonely path of natural healing by using foods.  As Ghandi so wisely said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  So we will do exactly that.  More to come on that also in future posts.

But for now, breathe deeply, eat great food, love your little ones, and say a few prayers that these two über-important projects will have the strength and weight behind them the tiniest members of our society need them to have.

Love and peace in 2013!

- Kati