UPDATE- We raised $1,228 for Kelly Carlin and her family. In addition, a Go Fund Me raised $7,525. To show her gratitude, the Carlin Family is hosting a community dinner at Off The Wheaten Path on December 24, 2024. Visit her Facebook page to learn more.

Who is Kelly Carlin?

Kelly Carlin is the owner of Off The Wheaten Path in Midland, Michigan. While she had a stand at the Midland Farmers Market for many years, she recently opened a storefront where everything is gluten free.

Tell Me More About Off The Wheaten Path in MI

Off The Wheaten Path offers a 100% dedicated gluten free menu. Kelly started this business after her own Celiac Disease diagnosis. Her new bakery storefront opened in July of 2024, and in October 2024 earned the title of Best Bakery in the Midland Daily News.

(Note- There are other “Off The Wheaten Path” businesses. There is another bakery of the same name in Pennsylvania. In addition, there is a different bakery in New Mexico called The Bakehouse Off the Wheaten Path. These two businesses are NOT related to Kelly Carlin. Also, there is a blogger with the name Off The Wheaten Path. She is not in the US.)

Why Are You Raising Money For Her Family?

As the Huron Daily Tribune reported, a fire ravaged Kelly’s new home on Wednesday December 4th. Not only did the fire cause great damage to their home, she also lost her pets. Just in general, the holidays are a terrible time to face hardships like this.

Also, in past years, people have helped me when I’ve encountered difficult situations. When our cars were vandalized, or our home was broken into, people stepped in to support us. I’m honored to “pay forward” the kindness others have shown to me.

Does The Carlin Family Know You’re Doing This?

Yes. Before taking any sort of funds, I asked Kelly Carlin for her permission. I’ve known Kelly for many years, and I’m honored that she trusts me to do this for her. I will pay any and all Venmo/PayPal processing fees.

How Can I Donate?

You can donate to this fundraiser via my Venmo or PayPal. Both platforms include my real name, Margaret Clegg. They both include an image of me in a blue sweater, holding a cookie. If you choose to use PayPal, make sure to select “For Friends and Family,” and NOT “Goods and Services.”

To avoid being duped by scammers who try to create similar accounts, please use the direct links above. For added security, if you’re donating via Venmo, the last 4 digits of my phone number are one zero four nine.

Prefer to use GoFundMe? Follow this link for the page set up by their friend, Katie Horning.

Note to Include with Donation

Both Venmo and PayPal allow you to include a note stating the reason for the donation. Please include “Off The Wheaten Path” or “OTWP” as the reason. Again, please make sure you select that you’re donating to a person, and not paying a business.

Is There a Deadline To Donate?

I would like to give the money to Kelly and her family by the end of December. (It helps with my end of the year taxes, as well.) I will update this blog post with the amount of money that has been raised.

UPDATE- As of 12/7/24 at 10 am, we’ve raised $833!

Have Further Questions?

Please feel free to email me at anytime. Please know I am not doing this to draw attention to myself. I am blessed to have a large following on social media. My simple goal is to use my platform for the good of others.

The post Donate to Support the Carlin Family appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Last month, someone told me “You’re so lucky you don’t have children.”

Lucky is the last word I would use to describe how I often feel.

I’ve written about my infertility before. I thought I had dealt with all of those emotions. I even remember telling my husband I was at “peace” with it. However, with that phrase spoken, it tore off the scabs of a wound I thought had healed.

At first I tried to brush it aside. I told my pastor about it. As his third child is due any day, he said that phrase broke his heart. The proximity of his joy and my pain made him weep.  And in true “me” fashion, I tried to undue his pain, and stuff mine. Tell myself that I shouldn’t hold it against the person who called me “lucky.” That I need to forgive. (And I have.)  That it’s no big deal.

However,  for the last month I’ve wrestled with how NOT “lucky” I feel.

Empty womb, empty room

Like how we had felt lucky, nine years ago. A friend felt moved to give us a crib. Blessed. A sign from God that He had heard our prayers and that an answer would come. We eagerly set it up, complete with stuffed animal, as a sign of faith of what was to come. Then, less than a year later, I experienced such a mental breakdown that I had to placed in a psych ward. Not able to sleep. Questioning reality. Losing all confidence in myself as a person, let alone a mother. I made my husband dismantle the crib, as it became unbearable to see.

Nine years later, the crib still sits in my basement, because I can’t face it. The guilt, because if God was going to give us a crib, but now we can’t have kids, then there must be a reason. There must be someone to blame. And from where I stand, the only logical answer is “me.” (For those who want to bring up adoption, please know those conversations took place. There are deep and heavy hearted talks that remain sacred, between spouses. I tell this story, not because I want you to fix me, but because I want you to hear me.)

The Son Who Left

Two years later, we took a step. We agreed to bring a foreign exchange student into our home. Our lucky chance to love a young man like the son we never had. There were joys, but many sorrows. He had Type 1 Diabetes, and ended up in the hospital with ketoacidosis. I sat by his bedside every day for a week, until he was released. Terrified that his mother would hate me forever. That I failed him as a mother. Ultimately he returned to Finland. It was not a pleasant departure, and he estranged himself from us. Only years later would he reply to our Facebook messages. We finally reconnected.

And then came the email. The message. Daniel had died. In his kitchen apartment in Finland, alone. Asphyxiated on his own vomit, again victim of ketoacidosis. His mother couldn’t (still can’t) speak English. All conversation typed, translated by Google. Being so far away, I couldn’t just drive to Finland. So I couldn’t attend a funeral. Say goodbye. Hug his mother. Find closure. Feeling a loss, while telling myself I haven’t the right to grieve, because his mother’s pain is all the greater.

The Boy Who Lived

At our church, we’ve always been involved with children. We were lucky enough to meet the acquaintance of a young black man. Antwon. Kicked off his school bus, I ended up driving him back and forth from school, every day, for 6 months. While not “my kid,” I willing love him as my own. We had deep conversations. About love and life and wrestling with broken relationships. Family strain. He’s over 21 now, and I still think of him like a son.

However, we live in a world where black men are shot due to the color of their skin. So I had to have that conversation with him. To stay out of trouble, to not talk back to police, to choose his friends wisely. To tell him that I love him, and that after losing Daniel, i can’t lose him too. So far, he has listened to my words. And I have not had to receive a text from his mom that something has happened. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still worry.

Blessed by this Union

We also acted as youth ministers at our church. We have been lucky enough to stay in the the lives of a few of them. Most notably, a set of twins who will always hold a strong place in our hearts. We attended both of their weddings, the second of which was this past weekend. It truly was a blessing to partake in this event. To see one of our “kids” take such a step of love and faith. However, I found myself still wrestling what we won’t see.  Will never see a daughter or son marry. No open houses or graduation parties. No grandchildren.

And now we are at a point when our church is struggling. The church we intentionally moved next to, in Flint, so we could be youth directors. Where we gave of our time freely and generously. The church where we have connected with families, only to have them move away, near and far. Indeed, if the worst happens, and our church closes, it will feel like I lost everything I sacrificed for. My time. Our money. My “kids.”

Healing For Us All

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Maybe it was fitting that I struggled with these feelings during that month. Please don’t mistake me. We have friends that have had miscarriages and whose newborns have died. In no way do I want to diminish their pain or overlook their story. I’m simply saying that maybe my feeling of loss is not so insignificant after all.

In penning this, I hope for three things. First, that the scab on the wound that was rubbed fresh will heal over again. And not just a scab that covers the surface, but allows for the deep healing that likely never occurred in me in the first place.  That I will focus again on how truly lucky I am that others trust me to care for their children, as if they were my own. Second maybe I can finally lay down the guilt and bitterness of not bearing children, of not living out the dreams we had. To be the “pearl of light” my name roughly translates into, to be a Margaret Elaine, instead of a Mara.

Thirdly, I hope that if you are experiencing feelings of loss, my story helps you to know that you are not alone. That I am willing, honored, to listen to your story, as so many have been willing to do for me. That I’m willing to walk along side you in your pain, without trying to “fix you.” May this post be about hearing and healing, not just for me, but for us all. May we all find peace at the end of the day.

The post “Lucky”: My Infertility Story appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

It All Started In a Facebook Group

I found myself commenting in a Facebook group the other day. Someone was newly diagnosed and had questions. I offered answers. Another woman newly diagnosed with  Celiac Disease admitted she still ate gluten every few days. I responded sharply to her. 

But now I’m not sure that I handled it well. Later I was humbled as I remembered I too was once a Celiac cheater. Therefore, I want to share my story, explain why we need to discus this, and offer suggestions if you want to help someone who also wrestles with this.

I Didn’t Always Stick to the Gluten Free Diet

Maybe Celiac cheater isn’t quite the right term. Because “cheat” invokes feelings of shame, which isn’t my attempt. I’m trying to educate. See, like this young woman, I too ate gluten despite my Celiac Disease diagnosis. Those first two years of my diagnosis were rough. (In this other woman’s defense, she received her diagnosis less than a year prior of our Facebook discussion.)

My dad and my grandmother, both diagnosed with Celiac Disease, also fell into the Celiac cheater category. My grandmother never followed the diet in my presence. Neither did my dad. (I share this and more in my Celiac story about my diagnosis.) 

It’s Tough To Eat Gluten Free When You Have Little Support

In addition, my mother was in the medical industry and not the most helpful in making foods I could eat. My significant other at that time was a paramedic and told me that it was all in my head and that I had “more problems than a third world country.”

To say that I did not have positive Celiac role models or health support at the time would be an understatement. At the same time, I started my student teaching. My classroom teacher was far from supportive. I distinctly remember leaving her room and hiding under a table after a stressful day. That time period was, in a word, rough hell.

Our Medical Community Fails to Address the Social Side of Celiac Disease

When I was first diagnosed, my gastro passed me off to dietitian. She told me what I couldn’t eat. No discussion of social stigma.  There was never a serious “sit down heart to heart” about the dire seriousness of Celiac Disease. In 2002, I met the man who is now my husband. That’s when things started to change.

Why? For once I had someone in my corner that was concerned about my health and needs. In addition, I finally had time to join a support group that gave me advice and helped me to not feel alone.  (Click this link for a list for Michigan Celiac Disease Support organizations. ) Third, I was finally able to work consistently enough to buy my own Celiac-safe food!

How My Lack of Adherence Impacted My Body

While I did take it more seriously, this gal was far from perfect. I ate regular cake at my wedding in 2003. As most with Celiac Disease do, I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. However not following this medically necessary diet has its consequences. We were never able to conceive. My teeth are discolored from years of calcium malabsorption.

To this day some of my extended family don’t take my needs as seriously now because I didn’t take them seriously then. I don’t know when I became strict with my diet. Maybe by the beginning of 2004. Two years of knowing, but wrestling. Knowing what I know now, I would NEVER CHEAT on this medically necessary diet. My hope is that you will not either. 

Why I Feel It’s Important to Tell You This Story

So why am I sharing my Celiac cheater story with you? One, I wanted to be transparent. I want my readers to know that I struggled just like everyone else. We only build community through honesty. That was one thing I lacked in my new diagnosis. Community.

This is not uncommon for those newly diagnosed. Family is unsupportive. Friends are unsupportive. Everything is new and scary and you just want things to go back to the way they were. So if you encounter another “Celiac cheater,” stop to learn their story. You may be the only one who has acted like they care. And you may be the one person to convince them that this is one diet they should never cheat on.

Compassion or Criticism?

I realize that I may be opening myself up to criticism. “How dare a Celiac Disease advocate cheat on her diet?! Let’s grab our pitchforks and get to stompin’!” Which brings me to my second reason for this Celiac cheater post. I want to remind us to all be compassionate to those who are still learning.

Maybe even those who have been diagnosed for a long time. None of us are perfect. In addition, we accomplish more with compassion than with confrontational criticism. Especially in our own community. If we have infighting among us, how will those who are undiagnosed take us seriously?

Expressing Your Concern to a Someone Not Adhering to Their Gluten Free Diet

Lastly, I want to discuss some ways we can help move those we care about who have Celiac Disease to stop eating gluten. It took my dad seeing the change in me after my diet compliance to truly change how he ate. Especially in the older population, we know SO MUCH more now than we did even 20 years ago. It may help to use “I” statements to get them to understand your concern.

“I love you and want you around. I care about you and want you to feel good and be happy.” Being diagnosed with Celiac Disease is a lifelong change and commitment. As my husband says “No one has ever been argued into Heaven.” Negativity and anger rarely become motivators in getting people to change.

Maybe Share These Consequences of Not Following The Diet

Infertility
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Dental Defects
Anxiety / Depression
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Mouth Sores
Neuropathy
Developing other autoimmune diseases
200+ more associated life-robbing symptoms

Sharing My Father’s Story

Can I share some of my dad’s story? He ate a non gluten-free diet for 10-20 years. For years he struggled with an autoimmune lung disease they couldn’t cure. They put him on autoimmune suppressants. And while his immune system was surpressed, he developed oral cancer. Doctors had to remove half of his tongue to save him. 

For years he was on prednisone to treat his lungs. Which in turn, lead to diabetes and other health issues. He couldn’t get a lung transplant, until he was 5 years cancer free. He died just a few months short of that. Can I say definitively that his Celiac Disease caused all this? No. But it could not have helped, either.

What if A Celiac You Care About Won’t Listen? 

What do you do if a Celiac cheater refuses to listen? What if they refuse to change? In the end, we need to decide which is more important – relationship or “being right.” We need to try to understand their story, as well as ours.

Why does it make us so angry? Do we feel their lack of adherence says that they don’t care about us? Or are we mad that life is harder for us because we take it seriously. Knowing our own motivations for our reaction are half the battle.

**Did it take a while for you to faithfully follow the Celiac Disease diet? Are there still times you struggle with temptation? Are you having difficulty convincing family members to stick to the diet? Please feel free to share your story below so we can support one another!**

Originally Published February 2018

The post Confessions of a Non-Adherent Celiac appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

… to Push for Justice

Flint continues. There are so many words I can use to finish that phrase. For certain, living in Flint continues to present its challenges. It would take all my fingers and toes to count the number of times people have suggested that we move. I’d be lying if I say my husband and I haven’t discussed it. However, there is a remnant here in Flint who envisions a better future. Better water and schools. Better economy and community. For certain, it’s not going to be easy.

Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not naive.  Six years after I shared about the “Flint Water Crisis”, our battle for legal justice continues. In the meantime, most of our water lines have been replaced. Our water quality has been restored.. This Politico article explains why we have clean water, but people still don’t trust it. Until all lead lines are replaced, we are encouraged to still filter our water. 

The previous mayor and city council canceled a previous agreement to get water from the Karegnondi Water Authority, because of concern of our inability to treat it properly. Instead, we agreed to pay Detroit for water for the next 30 years. Sadly, it may take 30 years to replace the trust our city has broken. A new mayor has us in negotiations to undo this.

… to Fight Crime

Flint continues to battle high crime. Police response times are terrible. Someone stole our central air a few summers ago. The police department never even showed up. Citizens have become apathetic in calling police for the crimes in their neighborhood. Therefore, statistics look like crime has diminished here in Flint. Flint continues to have its silence shattered by the gunshots of hateful violence. A few yearss ago, a gas station attendant was murdered in broad daylight, a victim of angry drug dealers. Only a block from my house.  It pierced my heart, and I shared about it in my gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles recipe.

There are so many more negative things that I could highlight. To be honest, I have a hard time focusing on the good myself, sometimes. However, Flint continues to have bright shining moments, if you look for them amidst the darkness. New investment. Education expansion. Demolition of blighted houses, making way for new development. Sources of joy.

Flint continues to persevere.

There are people here with vision. Let me share a few, and bare with me if I run long-winded.

Communities First, Inc

Don’t pass this video by. PLEASE watch it. It makes me cry. It makes me cry, because the brokenness you see in this video is literally my neighborhood. The burnt out, abandoned apartments you see in the first 30 seconds were only half a mile from our house. But now they have been torn down. Natural beauty has now replaced ugly destruction.

We walk these streets. We volunteered at the abandoned, graffiti – covered Coolidge Elementary Glenn speaks of. However, it also makes me cry tears of joy. Of hope, because Communities First, Inc. has decided to take a stand. As Flint continues to rebound, it is non-profits like this that will change this city. If you want to help Flint rebound, invest in organizations like these.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center

The N.E.W. Life Center started when two nuns had a desire to see real change happen. What started as a concern to clothe the needy turned into a full scale sewing educational center and business. New Life Center started training women to sew and make scrubs for local hospitals. Now they clothe hundreds in Flint and beyond. Maybe thousands, as they now produce high quality vests for one of Michigan’s most iconic brands, Stormy Kromer.

New Life Center does more than job training. They house a food pantry, run a lawn care business run for men looking for jobs, and so much more. You can read more about their amazing accomplishments in this Flintside article. Want to invest in their vision? Visit their page to donate time, materials or money. Buy a tartan red and black Stormy Kromer vest,  which may allow them to employ and impact even more women.

Flint Crepe Company, Robb Klaty and Coffee

In my opinion, one cannot talk about downtown Flint without mentioning Robb Klaty. During a time when others were quick to leave Flint, Robb set up shop. Quite literally. Robb opened the Flint Crepe Company location in downtown Flint in 2011. He focused on great food with locally sourced ingredients. He also chose not to focus on himself. Every Tuesday a different charity is highlighted that receives a portion of the days tips.

Klaty’s investment continues to factor into Flint’s reconstruction. What started as one small business turned into a continuing downtown expansion. He now owns Tenacity Brewing, where he brews his own beer, and now Heyday Coffee. Klaty opened Heyday coffee when he realized he could provide an outlet for Blue Line Donuts, a business run by the local homeless shelter that used the project to teach men and women business skills.

Kettering University and the University Avenue Corridor Coalition

The transformation that Flint continues to experience along the University Avenue Corridor is astounding. Kettering University, formerly General Motors Institute, realized the positive impact they could, and should have on the community around it. Mobilizing surrounding businesses, they inspired the creation of the University Avenue Corridor Coalition. The result? Blighted, dangerous homes finally removed. A historic football stadium now resurrected to its former glory.

The change to the neighborhood is nothing short of breathtaking. Maybe breathtaking is the wrong word. Maybe the word is breath giving, as it restores hope. Want to help further the hope? Run in the CRIM that passes through this space. Attend a Flint City Bucks (USL league) soccer game. Did you known they’re national champtions for their league? Donate to Carriage Town Ministries, benefiting the homeless and the poor.

Uptown Reinvestment Initiatives

Flint continues to improve, partially at the hand of major investors. Uptown Reinvestment, wanting to “build a vibrant future for Flint,” invested big bucks into our downtown. With their help we have a new Flint Farmer’s Market, voted one of the best in the country. Uptown’s investment helped create the new Michigan State University campus downtown. This campus focuses on healthcare, training interns at local hospitals. Also, they use their resources to help mitigate the effects of the Flint Water Crisis

Most recently, Uptown’s passion for making old things new included the grand restoration of the Capitol Theater. Originally opened in the 1920’s, a new generation of Flint residents now appreciations the beauty of the past. Want to help in the reinvestment of Flint? Visit the Farmer’s Market. Take in a show at the renovated theater. Dine downtown, and enjoy the beauty of our city.

Flint City Art Project

In 2019, the Flint City Art Project started an ambitious goal. To paint beautiful murals across the city of Flint. Murals of chidren, the homeless, Beyonce, and so much more. Even Anthony Bourdain. Over 40 exist, and the Flintside website created amap to see all of the Flint murals, in less than an hour. It’s a perfect reason for a roadtrip.

And So Many Others

There are so many others investing in this city, more than I can possibly name. (Flintside strives to share many of them. I highly suggest subscribing to their online newsletter.) People and organizations and businesses that chose to stand up to fear and put down roots. Support them.

Come to a Flint Firebirds hockey game. Donate to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, as they feed over 330,000 people a year. That’s what Flint needs, people and businesses seeking out the good and encouraging it to grow.

As Flint continues to rebound, those of us living here will roll up our sleeves to help. You can invest in us too. Donate to those doing good. Visit our city. Run through our streets. Buy our goods. Join us for a cup of coffee. Quit using Flint on social media as a meme or potlical clapback.. And although some gave me flack for it four years ago, continue to pray for our city.

Pray that hearts and minds change, both for our citizens and our leaders. Most of all, stand up for us. When the media kicks us down, when memes make light of our stuggles, speak up for those who might be starting to lose their voice. Lend us a bit of your emotional strength, maybe your financial support, and let us show you just how amazing Flint can be.

The post Flint Continues: (Flint Water) Crisis to (Re) Construction appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Let Me Be Transparent: I’m not Catholic

It’s the beginning of July 2017, and the Catholic Church has released a statement. 100% wheat-free Catholic Communion wafers are not valid for Holy Communion. Before I unload my research, thoughts and feelings on the issue, I will fully confess I am not Catholic. I attend a Protestant church that believes in open Communion. Amid the headlines of the Pope Francis’ declaration, I want to state some facts that might settle some fury. I also want to share some theological thoughts and concerns on their stance.

As I stated previously, I am not Catholic. I do however hold much respect for the Pope Francis. One, because he is a fellow Christian, living out the spiritual call on his life. Also, Pope Francis has of late done much to remind all believers that we are to take care of the poor, the hurting, and to show love and compassion above all else. Therefore I am surprised about his stance on not allowing a gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer, void of wheat.

Where the Catholic Church Stands on Wheat in Communion

First, some background on the Catholic Church’s belief on communion.  They believe once the wafer and wine are blessed, they transubstantiate into the body and blood of Jesus. Transubstantiate is simply a big word for “change into.” So yes, those of the Catholic faith believe they are LITERALLY consuming the body and blood of Christ. Like the sacrifices in the old testament, the host should be without defect or blemish.

This is why the wafer must be made of pure ingredients. Christ is pure, and therefore can only inhabit those things which are pure. Furthermore, this is why a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer is not possible in their belief. The Catholic Church believes a wafer made from grains other than wheat are not “pure” and will degrade easily.

How the Catholic Church Accommodates Those with Celiac Disease

Low Gluten Communion Wafers

Don’t run out with pitchforks and torches just yet. There are “low gluten” Communion wafers that are considered valid by the Catholic Church. These low-gluten hosts are made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration specifically as a response to those from the Catholic faith who have Celiac Disease.

While they are made with wheat starch and water, Tricia Thompson of Gluten Free Watchdog has tested these wafers. By her testing, “The amount of gluten in one host is approximately 0.0019 milligrams. In other words the amount of gluten in any one wafer is negligible. For context, a one ounce slice of gluten-free bread containing just under 20 parts per million of gluten contains 0.57 milligrams of gluten.”

Those with Celiac Disease Have Other Options

All that to say, that those wanting a gluten-free Catholic Communion experience, there are options. If you choose to partake of these low-gluten hosts, it’s best advised to keep a small box of them of your own. All parishes may not have them available. This also helps to prevent cross-contact from other gluten grains on the communion plate. Also, those with Celiac Disease can partake of wine only, from a separate chalice. In these ways, the Catholic Church is trying to accommodate the needs of those with Celiac Disease and wheat allergies.

So far I’ve tried to explain the stance against a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer. I understand that although my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ serve the same risen Savior, we have different practices. However, as a Christian there are issues I have with this stance. I have heard too many comments from Catholics and non-Catholics on this issue to simply remain silent. Bare with me as I explain some of my concerns on the denial of a wheat -free, gluten-free Catholic Communion host

My Concerns with the Pope’s Stance

What a Mighty God We Serve

As previously stated, the Catholic church states that the Communion wafer must contain gluten. This is because they believe that the communion host LITERALLY becomes the body of Christ after it has been consecrated. While that’s hard to wrap my mind around sometimes, I’ll be at peace with the idea. But stating that the wafer (or host) must contain wheat for transubstantiation seems to hinder the power of the Mighty God whom we serve.

Is He not the God who spoke the world into being? Is he not the God who parted the Red Sea, restored the dead to life, and healed the blind? Surely, a God of this magnitude can transubstantiate into any form of matter He chooses. If it is a matter of having “pure” ingredients, should we not be more concerned about the purity of our “host”? It is in our hearts that the Holy Spirit dwells. Purification of our own hearts and minds should deserve greater concern than the grains of a cracker.

Making Jesus Accessible to All

Second, this policy alienates so many. There are 75 MILLION people in this world with Celiac Disease. Many more with gluten-sensitivity. When we, the church, makes rules that make it harder to come to Christ, don’t we become like Pharisees? I have a friend who left the Catholic church for very personal reasons. She stated “if this is literally the body of Christ, why would we do anything to prevent others coming to Him?”

I think of the men in the New Testament who broke a roof to get their sick friend to Christ. What about the bleeding woman who pushed through the crowds simply to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe? He did not rebuke those men for not entering through the door. He did not rebuke the woman for being “unclean.” He welcomed them because their hearts realized that He was their Messiah.

Our Infirmities Should Not Keep Us from Christ

Third, I and my fellow brothers and sisters living with Celiac Disease are not lepers. Even if we were, Christ still would still have compassion on us. However, this rule of not allowing gluten-free Catholic Communion may make those with our genetic disorder feel like outsiders. I remember the story of a woman newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease in our support group. She relayed her heartache as she realized that her new diagnosis would hinder her participation in community. She spoke candidly of how she sat in her pew and wept deeply.

I’d like to think that Jesus wept with her. Just like he did Martha and Mary at the loss of their brother. When the Curtain of the Temple was torn in two during Christ’s crucifixion, it was done to restore relationship. Restore relationship not just with God, but with each other. It breaks my heart when any church – Protestant, Catholic or otherwise- sets up rules like the Pharisees that make relationship harder. I’ve written about this issue in our own church, here. 

Should Those with Celiac Disease Become Priests?

Partaking in Holy Communion is so central to the Catholic faith that remnants cannot simply be discarded. It is the literal body and blood of Christ, broken for us, and therefore must be consumed. Because of this, the Catholic Church has actually dissuaded men with Celiac Disease from becoming priests. As published in a Vatican document, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, “4. Given the centrality of the celebration of the Eucharist in the life of a priest, one must proceed with great caution before admitting to Holy Orders [priestly ordination] those candidates unable to ingest gluten or alcohol without serious harm.”

Why would one dismiss God’s servant because of a food intolerance? Men willing to take a vow of celibacy, deny the blessing of marriage, who take the personal commitment to being a man of the cloth should be honored. One willing to make that sacrifice for Christ should not be dissuaded.

“If You Had Enough Faith…”

Lastly, I’m concerned about what precedent this stance may set. Will priests still be compassionate to those who need the low-gluten hosts? Will they be willing to order the low-gluten hosts for those that need them? Is it possible that one’s request for a separate chalice will be seen as a “bother”? My heart broke as I read a comment on the GlutenAway Facebook thread from a Catholic parishoner. “My priest told me that if I had faith, I wouldn’t get sick. That it is NOT bread but the body of Christ.”

The “if you had enough faith” comment has been used in multiple denominations, and it’s simply WRONG. I think of the story of the young man born blind. The disciples ask “Who sinned, he or his parents?” Jesus answers “Neither, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed through him.” Again and again, Christ shows that we are to be people of compassion, and not judge the faith or sin of another.

Some Final Thoughts

So thanks for bearing with me on my long article about this issue. My goal here is not to destroy and disrespect the Catholic Church. My goal isn’t even so much to make the Pope rethink his denial of a true gluten-free Catholic Communion host. (Although that would be FANTASTIC!) More than anything, I want people to see the heart and compassion of Christ.

So many times I believe traditions established by churches are out of fear of God, and not an understanding of God. While it is true that we should come to Christ in reverence for what He has done for us, God does not stand ready to smite us if we get something wrong. He is our Abba, Father. We are His children. He defines us by our relationship with him, not our body’s relationship to wheat protein particles.

What’s your take on this issue? Please share your thoughts, keeping in mind that this is a sensitive issue and I will not tolerate demeaning comments from either side of the argument. How has your congregation or parish accommodated your Celiac Disease or food allergies? You can read my post on how I’d like to educate priests and pastors on that issue here.

For more on this topic, listen to my Celiac Project Podcast interview with Mike and Cam. (Audio starts at 30 seconds.)

The post Gluten-Free, Catholic Communion & Christ’s Love appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Picking Daniel up at Flint’s Bishop Airport

First Day of School!

Sarah and I

Fast forward 5 years

The post Foreign Exchange Opens Homes and Hearts appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

By now, the world at large has heard about the Flint Water Crisis. I’m going to share my own opinions about how we got here and how to fix it. What I’m about to say might not be popular. Then again, what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.

The city of Flint is in crisis. At the moment the lack of clean water is in the news media. You can’t miss it. Rachel Maddow is talking about it. It’s a topic on Fox News. Even Cher has thrown her thoughts into the public forum. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the matter. So I guess it’s okay to share mine.

It’s seems impossible to think that a city in the United States, in 2016, can be in such a state. How is it possible that a city that was built for 200,000 people can have an entire water system that is unfit to drink? How is it that a city, once home to the creation of General Motors, has been sending out water to its citizens that is full of lead? I wish the answer was simple, but I’m not sure it is.

In truth, our city has been in crisis for decades. If you were to drive through certain streets, you would see the vacant fields, boarded up business, and charred remains of where houses once stood. Our community members are just as damaged. Their sense of hope has left, walls of distrust built up, broken homes where single mothers are left to pick up the remains of their family.

Our government has been in crisis for a long time too. In 2002, citizens recalled mayor Woodrow Stanley for mismanaging the city and placing it in $40 million dollars worth of debt. It left the city highly divided. (By the way, citizens elected Stanley to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2008.  Let that sink in.) That was the first time the state sent someone in to help, as the city was in dire straits. City council president, Scott Kincaid, said at the time “he did not believe a financial emergency existed.” (Kincaid was the president of the city council here until just a year ago.)

Then started a long history of people sent to help. Darnell Earley became the temporary mayor after Stanley resigned. (Same Darnell Early that was here during the water switch. Same Darnell Early now in charge of Detroit Schools.) But you know what, things got better. We were no longer under state management in 2004 and we had a new, publicly elected mayor, Don Williamson. (Nevermind that Williamson was convicted for several business scams in 1962 and served 3 years in prison before being paroled. What’s the worst that could happen?) Skepticism aside, we were out of the red, had balanced budgets, and even received a national budget award in 2006. But somehow by 2009 we were in the hole again, to the tune of $14 million dollars. So of course, the citizens voted to recall Williamson, just like Stanley. Before he could be ousted, he resigned and moved away. And once again the state stepped in to help.

Enter the Emergency Manager Law

And so enters the era of the Emergency Manager law. A law passed by the Michigan legislature, our representatives, giving the governor the power to send someone to go in to a city and basically take over. Many decried that it was an attack on democracy. That we lost the right to govern ourselves.

But from where I stand, we haven’t done such a good job at taking our role as citizens seriously. Those governing this city who have been elected by us haven’t chosen very wisely. They elected a mayor with a known criminal record. We currently have a city council member that is a convicted murderer. We have another city council member who has been charged with disturbing the peace, during city council meetings, since 2009. Within a month of being elected, he was arrested for drunk driving, while driving the wrong way down the freeway. He has been allowed to keep his council seat. (His original trial found him not guilty on a technicality. He has since been retried and is serving 28 days in jail.) ONLY Forty percent of voters turned out for that November 5th, 2013 election.

Why do I say all this? Why do I bring up our past when we are facing such a health crisis now? Why aren’t I shouting in anger at the governor for letting this happen to us? Why aren’t I demanding the repeal of the emergency manager law?

Because it’s not just that easy. Because our city has over a decade’s worth of history of our own mismanagement. Because true change can’t happen until we do the soul searching of what got us here. Because I’m tired of the culture of hate and bickering.

You have no idea what it is like to read a Flint Journal article online, only to see neighbors within the county talk about how our city is good for nothing. How they say it should be bombed, and that the last person should simply turn off the lights. It’s hard to hear your own neighbors say how desperately they want to leave, when they are the very people you are sacrificing your time and energy to serve. It’s heartbreaking to go to the funeral of teenage students, because they’ve killed each other over an argument. You have no idea what it’s like to have police not show up after your house has been burglarized, because the city doesn’t have money to pay for an adequate police force. Or to hear AK-47 gunshots for 20 minutes on New Year’s Eve, practically coming from your backyard on New Year’s Eve, only to be told by cops that there’s nothing they can do and to just deal with it.

And that’s why this citizen wants to see the mass media go away. The hype to go away. The nasty viral tweets, snarky Facebook memes, and political grandstanding to go away. They weren’t concerned with the day to day moral poisoning of the city. Why are they concerned now?

Can you understand? We’ve been used by pawns by our own local government for far too long. We don’t need Michael Moore or Cher or Rachel Maddow or potential presidents to use our city for talking points and ratings. To use fear and hate to feed the divide we already have in this city.

Because hate can’t drive out hate. Only love can do that. Flint needs love. We need hope. Yes we need clean and safe water. But we also need words of healing, prayers of concern, people who are willing to quietly work behind the scenes to do the hard work of real change.

So if you’re not interested in showing love and providing healing, I’m going to kindly asked you to keep your opinions to yourself. Because after years of deception, we need truth and honesty. Not opinion.

And please forgive me, as I realize I might seem ungrateful for the help we have received. I’m not. There are people volunteering from cities near and far, going out day to day in the cold. Delivering water and filters to shut-ins, those without vehicles to purchase safe water. I am eternally grateful for them.

I’m thankful for those who stand up locally, who fight for truth and demand action. Who see a problem and are working for change, writing senators, scheduling meetings behind the scenes, the countless who are giving of their time to make things happen. Those people are truly changing the world.

I appreciate the outrage that is moving people to personally help. To be love with skin on.

Here are 5 ways you can get involve in helping the Flint Water Crisis.

Thank you Paul Christiansen for this list.

1) PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.

Pray for the people of Flint. Pray for those in decision-making roles. Pray that the necessary resources will be provided for both for short-term needs and for the long-term infrastructure issues. Pray that hearts will be changed and people will listen to divine wisdom to overcome this terrible issue.

2) STAY INFORMED.

There is a lot of hype and sensationalism out there right now over this issue. It is important to get the facts.Here are three links that can give helpful, accurate information. (The first is info from Virginia Tech who did extensive testing in Flint and helped get the state to take this issue seriously. The second is a site organized by our State Senator with info for residents. The third is an article by Michigan Public Radio, who was on top of this story when no one else believed.)
https://flintwaterstudy.org
https://flintwaterinfo.com
https://michiganradio.org/…/how-people-flint-were-stripped-b…

This is a hot topic nationally right now and it’s getting alot of publicity, but it will fade from the national consciousness as soon as another big issue arises. The people of Flint will still be here. Hopefully, the coverage does actual good for those hurting and affected.

3) DONATE TIME TO DELIVER WATER DOOR TO DOOR.

Manpower is needed and for individuals and groups looking for a way to serve, this is a great option for getting boots on the ground. The mayor, county sheriff, and national guard are coordinating the effort, but they are calling for more help. Flint has close to 100,000 residents, and 40% of Flint’s population lives below the poverty line. Water was already a major need before all this happened, but now even more so.

**Update- water is NOT being delivered door to door right ow. Instead there are water distribution sites in around the city.**

4) DONATE WATER.

Water donated can be taken to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan or the Mission of Hope church/shelter. There are others, but those are two of the best. If you aren’t in Flint, check your area as several cities are coordinating donation efforts to bring water to Flint.

** Water donations are no longer needed.**

5) DONATE MONEY TO A CHARITY HELPING WITH EFFORT.

This allows local organizations to purchase water, filters, and supplies that are needed. The United Way of Genesee County is one great possibility and here’s their link to donate. Click here.

“The United Way of Genesee County has set up this fund for the purchase of filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts. 100% of the fund is used for these projects and no Administrative Fee is assessed.”

UPDATE – February 2018

It’s been three years since our household has first started using a water filter. Things are getting better. Pipes are being replaced.  Businesses are moving back in. Vestiges of hope are being restored. Read more about our (Re)Construction. 

The post The Flint Water Crisis from the Eyes of a Citizen appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

I’ve slowly been updating blog posts on my site. I must admit, this was one I was not eager to edit. I first wrote this in December of 2015. At that time, he developed the beginning of congestive heart failure. After an x-ray, we discovered that his little heart was literally two times larger than it should be. Dr. Shaker gave Midnight two months to two years to live. He beat the odds, and blessed us with three more years together. Other illnesses piled on. Diabetes. Skin tumors. Fluid on his lungs. This week, with my husband and I both present, we laid him to rest.

The Upside of Multiple Sclerosis

Midnight came into our life, somewhat miraculously. Sadly, we had just lost our first dog in an accident. At the same time, our neighbor’s dog ran away. His granddaughter felt determined that grandfather needed another companion animal. Mr. St. Cin has multiple sclerosis, and had limited mobility. Therefore, his grandfather acquired Midnight. Unfortunately, Midnight always yearned to be where the action took place. Immediately next to your feet. Not a good thing for an elderly man with MS. Therefore, Midnight came to live with us. He restored my confidence in being a “dog mom,” and slowly eased the ache and guilt I felt over losing our previous dog.

While small in stature, Midnight was ferocious. I often called him my “15 pounds of fury.” He was a bit of a stinker too. He learned to put the windows down in the back seat of the car. Midnight figured out how to flip his stuffed cardinal just right to hit us in the head. He “relieved” himself in the most inopportune places. (Remember Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? This is a nice place…)

Never Met A Lap He Didn’t Like

Midnight loved to travel. Often, he stayed with my parents, or my in-laws when we traveled. He immediately sensed when the car neared Grandma Betty’s house. He knew she was a push over. Grandpa Loren always took him for walks, which he enjoyed. He could nap anywhere, with anyone. His little paw on yours, and he owned you.

However, his preferred place of rest was between your legs. If you bent your knee just right, he would curl up in the crook of it. He’d hurrumph like an old man until he made himself as comfortable as possible. Then he’d stay soundly asleep until you moved. I will miss morning cuddle times with him the most. He also liked to sleep in my photography room. He’d lay on the floor, in a patch of sunlight, and nod off until I was done shooting. After all, you never know when mom might drop some food.

Calmer of Fears

While Midnight loved company, he really enjoyed children. I remember the circumstances of the above photo. Our neighbor’s girl felt nervous around dogs. One day, we encouraged her to take Midnight for a short walk around the church parking lot. He helped her conquer her fears. As time followed, E helped her younger brother and sister feel less nervous around dogs as well.

Best Big Brother

I never thought I would own two dogs at the same time. Especially when Midnight was younger, he wasn’t the biggest fan of other dogs. However, one day my husband rescued a stray from the neighborhood. I thought for sure Midnight would practically harass her non-stop. However, Jasmine was malnourished and sick. He sensed it, and just let her be. They cuddled on the couch the next day, and they became inseparable ever since.

With Midnight being smaller, we intentionally treated him as the “Alpha” dog when Jasmine first entered our lives. He ate first. He entered the house first after a walk. While later we relaxed all of those rules, she still waited on him. She never stole food out of his bowl. She protected him as much as she does us.

Watching her miss him as been one of the hardest things about this.

Remember the Best Parts

I took this picture years ago, when Midnight was younger. I still chuckle as I remember him trying to attack the waves. He’d run down the shore, trying to bite at the ripples of water. Just like he’d attach the vacuum cleaner. So much of his energy later in life was spent on fighting against his illnesses. While I sometimes have guilt, wondering if we made the decision too soon, I do find peace in knowing he doesn’t have to fight against his own body anymore.

When I remember Midnight, this is the image I want to remember. To think of him in his best times. Maybe our world would be a little better if we thought of the best in each other when we don’t act like ourselves.

Come Close To My Heart

When I first wrote this post back in 2015, I used it to share more about my faith. The Sunday after learning about Midnight’s enlarged heart, tears streamed down my face as I sung in the choir. All I could think about was being at home, holding my sweet little buddy and telling him how much he is loved. I thought of Christ wanting to do the same for us. How God promises to be close to the broken-hearted. How when Jesus entered Jerusalem, he mentions the desire to gather us to him, as a hen gathers her chicks to her chest

I mentioned the following recently in one of my weekly newsletters, after sharing about Midnight’s condition.

“Last Sunday, our pastor asked in his sermon “Are you preaching about the Kingdom?” That we are to meet needs like Christ did, but we need to share WHY we do what we do. That the unending love of Christ is free for all of us.
In so many ways, I feel like being a Celiac Disease advocate is God’s call on my life. That while God does not want us to “suffer,” He allows us to use the struggles in our lives to be a source of aid for others.
While I want to be your gluten free resource, I also want you to know (as my friend Niki would say) that “there is God who knows you best and loves you most.” Just the way you are.

And maybe you’re not into all this faith stuff. Possibly you’ve been burned by the church. (If so, on behalf of believers, I apologize.) Either way, just know that you are loved, worthy of love, and have more value than anyone can measure. <3

**Looking for a dog to care for? Please visit the Humane Society. If you live in the greater New York area, please consider fostering dogs through Mr. Bones and Co.**

The post Midnight, Our Big Hearted Dog appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

1. A dairy cow must get pregnant once a year to produce milk.

Yeah, I know, this should be obvious. I’ve been watching way too many movies and stories of sheep being born in the spring. Fun fact about about dairy cows and babies. Almost all dairy cows are artificially inseminated.

2. Fraternal twin cows do not produce milk.

If a cow has twins, and one is female and the other male, the female cow will never produce milk. Therefore, the farmer sells her. I learned this at Paulen Farms in Howard City. This family dairy farm has been around in one way or another for over 100 years. The day we visited him, we were lucky enough to see twin calves that were born the night before.

3. Cows are pretty shy animals and don’t have top teeth.

When I first talked to Andy, I asked him if I could pet the cows and if they would try to bite me. He explained cows are pretty shy creatures. They become nervous around large crowds and generally don’t come near enough to let you pet them. Another interesting fact? They have no upper teeth!

4. Cows only sleep 3-4 hours a day

As a person who easily needs 6-7 hours of sleep, this astounded me. I admit that life seems pretty easy for a cow on a dairy farm. It pretty much involves eating, relaxing, and producing milk.

5. Cows need to keep cool to make milk.

Above 72 degrees, cows will stop eating and therefore stop producing milk. I actually learned this at the Pyle Farm. We were all amazed at how cool it was inside the barn, even on a hot summer day. 

6. Michigan dairy farmers are part of one large co-op.

This is because they believe in working together as an industry instead of being in competition with each other all the time. In this dog eat dog world, I’m amazed that each  Michigan dairy farm chooses to work together as an industry. I don’t think I know of ANY other industry that does this. Michigan even has a United Dairy Industry. You can follow them on social media at @milkmeansmore to learn all sorts of facts, recipes, and learn about events.

7. Michigan ranks 6th in the entire nation for milk production

An average Michigan dairy farm cow produces over 2,000 gallons of milk a year. We’re not just huge in milk production. We’re #1 in the nation in the production of lowfat ice cream mix. Since August 19th is National Soft Ice Cream Day, we all have a lot to celebrate in this state!

8. Milk containers with the first two digit code of “26” indicates it is Michigan milk.

We often see notifications on Facebook, Twitter, and other places about making sure to check your produce for codes that specify it is organic. Who knew that dairy uses a similar coding system!

9. A dairy farm can be a dangerous place to work.

I’ve known that Andy has worked long hours at his dairy farm for a long time. Because farm work is never “done,” he often misses family functions. There are many times that farmers pay a much larger sacrifice than of just their time and talents. Andy told me of a local farmer that died within the past few years because he was killed by a bull.

10. Farmers are 3.5 more likely to commit suicide

A 2024 PBS article talks about the high stress and suicide levels in farming. A 2023 article from DairyHerd.Com states that ““Forty-five percent of farmers’ and ranchers’ suicides in the last 15 years were committed by people aged 65 and older.” I say these things not to cause uproar over safety in the farming industry. I say these things because, with the growth of supermarkets, we lose the connection to the people who produce the food we eat.

We disconnect from the needs and concerns of those who make it possible for us to take in nourishment every day. It makes it easy for us to lose our sense of gratitude for what they do for us.

So the next time you drink a glass of milk, eat some ice cream, or sprinkle cheese on your pizza or salad, remember that there is someone working, literally, all the time to make it possible. Someone who cares for the animals and for our communities. Someone who deserves our gratitude and respect.

Do you have any farming experience? What do you wish society knew about farm work? Leave me a comment below!

The post 10 Udderly Fascinating Dairy Farm Facts appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

The Connection Between Celiac Disease and Infertility

Celiac Disease has over 300 associated symptoms, one of which is infertility. The cause of this is not known for sure. However there is anecdotal evidence to show an obvious relationship.

An Italian study showed that women with Celiac Disease had higher rates of missed periods than those without the disease. For most women with Celiac Disease, infertility resolves after starting on a gluten-free diet. Not me.

What NOT to Say to a Woman with Infertility

Often many will say, “Regardless of your infertility, you’ve been important to the lives of many children.” This is indeed true. I have been a youth leader, a nanny, a teacher, an aunt and “mom-in-arms” to many kids. In addition, I get the comments that I’m “still a dog mom.” They are adorable, but somehow still not the same.

Sadly, I’ve had other comments that aren’t as compassionate. The parents who have said to me, “You just wouldn’t understand. You’re not a mom.” Ugh. Once, someone even told me, “You’re lucky you don’t have children.” Ouch.

When Mother’s Day is Hard

There are the years when I’d rather hide from the world on Mother’s Day. Our lives often seem full of stress. Stress in our family, in our jobs, in our community, and even in our church.

My nerves can be so close to the surface that you might snag them as you simply walk past me. (People often think I’m “so nice.” Some times I think it’s just because I’ve learned what outward behaviors are socially acceptable.)

On Mother’s Day a few years ago, it was one of those rough years. The projector stopped working right before service. They couldn’t figure out why. It was literally working just before service started. The minister apologized for the technical difficulty and the inability to show the lengthy Mother’s Day video they had planned.

In that small moment, I thanked God for a busted projector.

In Support of All Mothers

If there’s one silver lining in my infertility, it’s that it’s caused me to want to support mothers in general. Maybe because I see what an honor and blessing and hard work it is. I also see how often they are maligned or diminished in our culture. Our mothers definitely deserve much more than one day of appreciation.

I think especially of food-allergy moms who take so many more extra steps to safe guard their children. A nice lunch or a new piece of jewelry can never compare to their sacrifice. Mothers need our support and encouragement everyday. They need to know the day-to-day monotony of repeating themselves is truly valuable. They need help carrying the fearful weight on their shoulders, wondering if they’re “doing this child-rearing thing” right.

Honoring All Women

So a challenge on this Mother’s Day. Please do honor your mother in as much as you are able. But honor the other women who have impacted you, as well. Teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. Do it every day you have breath in your lungs, because they choose to be an intentional part of your life. Honor them because they encourage you to be the best you can be.

May you have a blessed Mother’s Day, whether you are a woman, a man, or even a transgendered person. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your worth in this life is definfed in how you treat one another. Not in what titles you achieve. Never forget that.

Have you been affected by infertility? What has helped you in your emotional journey? What ways do you use your talents to nurture others?

The post Infertility, Celiac Disease, and My Mother’s Day Perspective appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.