ROCK- A Good Place to Start

Raising Our Celiac Kids or ROCK for short is support group developed by Danna Korn with chapters across the United States. Members of ROCK chapters get and give advice on all aspects of living gluten free whether you have celiac disease or another affliction which requires adherence to a gluten free diet.

I have already posted about ROCK before, but decided it was worth repeating for a few reasons. One, it is a fantastic organization and two I am wondering how many people are being told right now, "You really need to have your child on a strict gluten free diet.", and don't know where to begin. That was me just over two years ago. Well, ROCK is a good place to start. The organizer of the ROCK chapter I belong to was the voice of reason in the early stages of accepting that my child and I had celiac disease.

Don't hesitate, check the list on the link and see if there is a ROCK chapter near you. Call the organizer of the closest one to you. They can offer advice to you as your child goes back to school and a host of other issues.

This is Gluten Free and YOU because you are important and I appreciate you checking out my blogspot. Thank you and come again soon!

Friendship is Gluten Free

As we settle into the middle of summer I wanted to take a moment and say how very thankful I am for friendship. I have been blessed with many wonderful people in my life. The photo currently taking center stage on the blog is of flowers and vegetables given to my family by friends. To me, it is one of the prettiest photos I have ever seen. It reflects caring and generosity.

Something else that reflects caring and generosity is the lengths friends have gone to make me and members of my family feel comfortable. This summer alone we have traveled to a friend's home two times.  And twice she and her family have gone out of their way to make sure that we not only could eat, but eat safely several days at a time. This was all done with a grace that made it seem effortless. Eating gluten free 100% of the time is a challenge, but to invite people into your home when you do not generally eat gluten free is another matter all together.

Since being diagnosed with celiac disease two years ago many friends have served me meals in which they sought out brand new recipes, gluten free products or converted recipes specifically to make them safe for me to eat. No one has shied away from inviting me to dinner or been skeptical to try something that I made. No one has joked about whether something was going to taste good based on its gluten free nature. That is not to say that I haven't heard any negative comments about gluten free dining, but never once from a friend. These unfunny jokes were generally from uneducated media personnel or folks who I guess simply do not handle change very well.

So tonight, it is with a humble heart that I say "THANK YOU". Thank you for your love and support and for being you, my dear friends. I don't know what I would do if friendship weren't gluten free.