Gluten-Free Me and Other Calamities

Trying to live gluten-free is... challenging. And that's how I look at it. As a Challenge.

I love food. Specifically anything related to bread. But it's not just in bread, gluten is in everything. It's ridiculous.
For your information, gluten-free brownies and breads = not very yummy.

Basically, now I live on protein shakes (gag me), salads, fruits, and veggies.
I figure, if I can't feed myself yummy food, I might as well be as healthy as possible, right? Right!

I've added fish oil pills to my small morning collection of supplements (now consisting of vitamin C, Zyrtec, Airborne, and fish oil).

There are many benefits of fish oil, which I greatly enjoy. Yes, I highly recommend the stuff. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the fishy taste.
Except, they are on the huge side of the size scale... you should check and see if you have a large to normal sized throat first (I was worried that I'd choke).

I'd like to make it very clear, being gluten-free is not a bad thing. I mean, just because it's hard, doesn't mean it's bad.

Anything from God is a gift — a good gift. God has blessed me with this opportunity to stretch, grow, and refine myself. I should eat to live and not live to eat (if you know what I mean).
This has only taken me the past month or so to figure out.

Understand, if I choose to, I can eat gluten foods... I just get really exhausted. Almost lethargic feeling. Well, and that's not exactly ideal.

For the past couple of months, I have been seeing how many days I can go without giving in to the temptation (this is the challenging part).
So far, my record shows: two consecutive weeks without eating anything with gluten.
That was pretty hard, not gonna lie.
Sometimes, in moments of weakness, I just break down and snitch a chip or something. It's never worth it though.

I got a new pair of pointe shoes... because my old ones broke. Yes, again. I got them on Tuesday after TW. The lady was quite the snippet. She makes me uncomfortable but I feel sorry for her. I agree, it's a strange relationship.

Anyway, I sewed them after homework yesterday.

Tonight I got to make a complete fool out of myself at the dress rehearsal. It was a tragic massacre. Mortification to the max.
I will take a moment and vent/complain here, if you don't mind.

• A few of the girls can't do the dance 
• my tiara came off/broke on stage
• we paused the music in the middle of the dance because one girl's pointe shoe came off 
• once it got started again, (get this) the music wasn't turned up loud enough and I couldn't hear it 
• I was completely off beat for several counts 

I could go on...

On Sunday, I have two performances; one at 1:00 and another at 4:00.

Well, I'm trying to count this as a blessing, and as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
However, my attitude is kinda suckish right now. I feel bad about that...
If you think to, I definitely could use prayers for Sunday. I might be graying at the temples... too much stress involved in this production.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, I'm not usually this high-strung... I promise. I just don't like to look like a fool on stage. That's normal, right?

On a more positive note, I am so proud of my little sister. She has really grown into such a graceful, poised, intelligent, athletic, and not to mention beautiful stunning girl.
She stole my heart away and I don't even think she realizes it (even though I told her so).

When she was up on that stage, I watched backstage, behind the curtains.
My face was beaming. Absolutely beaming, I tell you!
I was so proud... I am so proud of her.  I clapped and whistled and hooted and hollered! I wanted to shout, "That's my sister!"
She used to be a little kid. How could I ever have missed this? Oh my word.
I felt like Gilbert in that one scene at White Sands (where Anne recites The Highway Man)... you know the one.

Oh man. Seeing her on the stage practically made up for what a doozie my performance was (putting it mildly here). And my dad even faithfully recorded it. Bless him.

Well, and I guess I don't have any more to say about that.

This is my costume. I think its pretty. Too bad the dance... oh, never mind.