A post from a guest blogger: My daughter, Aleyah. ❤

Aleyah Terry

December 14th proved to be the beginning of my family’s battle with the flu virus. It started with my almost 8 yr old, Anna. She quickly gave it to Daddy, who then gave it to 5 yr old Joel. Aleyah and I managed to stay bug-free…until the following Sunday: exactly one week from when it started. In the middle of church, Aleyah told me she had a headache and that was that. Me, as mom, didn’t separate myself from the sickos. I was the one administering meds, holding hair while vomit came forth, and washing countless sheets/blankets/towels. Many people commented on the miracle of me staying well. There are two reasons in one why I stayed healthy: God’s goodness. God’s goodness was manifested to me in 1. His grace and 2. His created foods. I believe He extended His protective grace over me AND I believe He has given me so many wonderfully created foods to allow my body to fight off flu bugs! Below is a list of immune-boosting foods that was published in The Huffington Post thanks to Roufia Payman, the director of outpatient nutritional services at Northern Dutchess Hospital in New York.The only two items on this list that I do NOT consume on a regular basis are the noodles in the soup (but I LOVE the rest of it!) and honey (that I eat occasionally not regularly). I eat a ton of veggies throughout the day and a good bit of fruit as well. All those awesome phytonutrients created a hefty barrier to that nasty flu virus. So, here’s to all my salads and roasted veggies! I love you! And here’s to my Creator! Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully creating me!

1. Chicken Noodle Soup

2. Onions and Garlic

3. Mushrooms

4. Citrus Fruits and other high Vitamin C fruits and veggies

5. Yogurt

6. Vitamin D and Omega 3 supplements

7. Hot Tea

8. Ginger

9. Honey

10. Black pepper

11. Spices

My family! You chose to make “Summer Snap Shots” the most visited post of all of 2014. This simple post highlighted our family’s adventures over the summer. I like to think that this shows that my readers have hearts for cherishing those special memories we often make with our loved ones. Thank you for following me on this journey of health living, and I am praying that you and your family will experience God’s grace and His love in the year to come.

Simple dish for our Christmas table:
Rutabaga
Brussel sprouts
Sweet potatoes
Purple onion
These will be roasted with olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper. And I will consume them quickly 🙂

May your Christmas table be filled with God’s goodness and His blessings!

If you’re not following me on Facebook, be sure to ‘like’ my page! I often give quick tips, food ideas, and share the latest news/reports about health. In fact, I shared one today about processed food being “encoded” into our DNA when we eat it – yikes!

Made organic whole wheat pizza dough today! We doubled the recipe so we can freeze the rest for future opportunities- calzones, pigs in a blanket, empanadas, and pizza of course (like Aleyah’s Cuban pizza)! I have come to love the pizza dough recipe that I once saw on Bobby Flay’s show, but it was actually Wolfgang Puck’s recipe that he was “borrowing”. In order to freeze this, I punch down the dough after rising, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in a freezer bag. The dough defrosts within an hour or so, making it an easy lunch or dinner option. We also made gingery broccoli and carrot salad that Anna loves. Buon appetito!

I need your help! Take 60 seconds and click on the two links below and hit the ‘like’ button on each one. My girls spent a good bit of time decorating these pointe shoes that are entered in a contest at our local dance shop – Melbourne Dancewear – a place we frequent and spend a good bit of money! If their shoes receive the most ‘likes’, then they win a gift card. THANK YOU!!!

Click here for Shoe 1

Click here for Shoe 2