National Healthy Eating Day...Yes-It Is A Thing

November 2- National Healthy Eating Day!

I love that this is a thing. But, I wish this were more of a daily thing. Except birthdays, special occasions, and the occasional and rare cheat meal.

I think there a lot of problems with the way people-particularly Americans- think about nutrition and diet.

I HATE DIETS!! Let me guess...you too, right? But we probably hate them for different reasons. It is common for people to "go on a diet" - Military diet, Crash diet, No carb diet, etc. Only eating salads and starving themselves. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY. Want to lose weight? Ok, I feel ya! But you actually don't have to starve yourself. You can eat every meal, you can have snacks, and you can be full!! It comes down to simple and basic nutrition education. I LOVE FOOD!! But I also love to be healthy, feel good, and use as much natural medicine (veggies) as I can.  I hate diets because they are a temporary and usually unhealthy solution. And I strongly advocate being strong and healthy- not striving to be "skinny". Strive to be healthy!

I became passionate about this at 18. I went further and made it my lifestyle as I exited college. And I constantly try and improve on it myself.

Incoroporate protein, fiber, and vegetables in your meals. Cut out the sugar and the fatty stuff- unless it is a healthy fat! People always think they are eating healthy when they eat protein bars as a meal replacement. Usually, these are packed with sugar! Sugar breaks down in the body as fat. Bad fat. So pay attention to nutrition labels. Look at the sodium content, sugar, fat, carbohydrates. This could be where you are going wrong when you think you'e doing good.

I am a big fan of meal planning and prepping for your family. Sit down on Saturday or whenever your grocery day is and plan the meals for your family over the next week or even more. Make a grocery list, clip the coupons, etc. Cook it all up and save it in the fridge. Freeze it if you are planning way out. Do what you gotta do.

Then, when the family gets home from a brutal Monday- nobody is stopping for pizza, you aren't exhausted trying to make your hangry family a healthy dinner...you just come home, kiss the hubs, babies , and pups, and warm them up dinner...healthy...filling...nutritional dinner.

This may take quite a bit more research on your part, a LOT of committment, and studying, but I think you and your family are worth it, right? Take care of your heart and your body and your family!!

Here are some examples of my favorote meals I cook and prep for my little family of 2...I cook for 8. :

-Spaghetti squash with chopped chicken (or ground turkey) with sspinach...then bake it.

-Zucchini lasagna....layer long sliced zucchini with ground turkey or chicken, tomatoes, and onion, and very small trace amout of cheese across top.

-Crock pot chicken with any two sides of veggies.

-Turleyloaf

-Stuffed bell peppers- I stuff with ground turkey or chicken, spinach, black beans, tomatoes, onions

-Chicken chilli in crockpot- I use 2 chicken breasts, kidney beans, black beans, chilli beans with no additives, onions, tomatoes and celery. Spice it up with cayenne pepper and maybe add minced garlic in trace amounts. For sour cream substitute I use plain non fat greek yogurt instead. Tastes the same.

-Stuffed chicken breasts- sort of slice them like a hot dog bun and stuff with veggies, spinach, sun dried tomatoes. Bake them and add a veggie for your side.

-Taco Chicken bowls- similar to chicken chilli but with a more spicy kick...crock pot your chicken breasts, black beans, tomatoes, your own made salsa-easy to do -  cuts out sodium- onions- slop it into a bowl and its a warm comfort dish.

I have tons more recipies. I can always give detailed recipies and snack ideas.

Mostly, I just want to encourage people to do their research about health and nutrition. Don't diet. it won't last. Make it a lifestyle change to eat healthfully. You won't be miserable or hungry. In fact, I guarantee you will be happy!! You just have to give yourself a little discipline to put down the sodas and the sweets and reach for better choices instead. I hear people and friends complain about their bodies and how they feel all the time. And they say they will do better- and then they dig into a grease dripping loaded cheeseburger ...which, yeah is yummy....but is it worth it? Your health, your heart, how you feel about yourself? Be strong and healthy with good protein and veggies! Save the treats and cheats for special occasions and on a designated one cheat meal day.

It is not an easy transition always, but it will be so worth it!! Love and Live a healthy lifestyle. Glorify God with your body! Not everybody will get it, but for those who do- I am here to help and coach you! I need help too! It has truly made the difference for me. I am healthy and strong. I have been able to keep my heart stable and push off surgery a little while longer by not clogging my arteries, and I feel wonderful!!

I just want to make a difference and help people to live their best lives so that we can serve God to our full potential! So, maybe let Nov. 2 be a start for you and your loved ones to make a lifestyle change and eat healthy!

God bless! Love you all!

God Gave This Heart Purpose!

Yesterday, October 28, 2016 at 17:00....I did something hugely out of my comfort zone because God told me to! And when daddy tells you to do something- you do it!

I went to WSPA News Channel 7's news station...and "Shared My Story."

Last month, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed- mindlessly- and saw something eye catching. An event was suggested to me...because you know...Facebook "knows me" and it was actually awesome. WSPA partnered with the American Heart Association and the Go Red For Women group to bring awareness to the major killers of women- Stroke and Heart Disease. The event in summary was for women to share their story- their experience with heart disease and /or stroke and how this has affected them.

My heart started besting fast and hard in my chest when I saw this event. I believe it was the Holy Spirit jumping up and down in one of the chambers of my heart- beating on the walls- telling me to go and to do this. I knew instantly I needed to share the testimony God gave me. But I wanted to remain quiet and secretive about this until it was over. Not just because I am shy-though nobody believes I am. I wanted to keep this between God and myself because this was not about me. It never has been. This is about God and His glory. His miracle. This story is God's story. So, I vowed to God I would do it- no matter how nervous it made me because I know when He calls me to go. Sometimes a mission field is right in your back yard.

Some time went by and it was just on my paper calendar- covered up by a sticky-note so nobody could see my plans for this Friday evening. Y'all, I did not even inform my husband or family. This was truly mine and God's mission together. I didn't want to hear people telling ME praises about ME, giving ME kind words about MY opportunity. I wanted to be completely quiet, humble, and focus on God here. I knew I could tell others about this once God got me past my fears so that He may be given more glory.

I am an anxious person who plans out every little detail and thinks of every possible scenario. So one Saturday afternoon- I was relaxing and watching "Selena"....I love that movie...I still cry every time I watch it...loved her music! Anyway- I was watching this movie and me and my dog, Blondie were snuggling. I started allowing my mind to drift away from the movie and onto my fear of attention and focus on me- camera shy- and I started doubting what God told me. I knew in my spirit God had called me to go to this event coming up and share His testimony in my life and on my heart- but the human me was allowing satan power to creep into my mind and give me doubts and fears. It was when I started becoming truly overwhelmed by my fears that Blondie got restless and stepped on the TV remote changing the TV from my DVR to live TV. Slightly frustrated I went to get the remote to flip back to the movie I've seen too many times...when suddenly, a commercial about this "Casting Call" to "Share Your Story" came on loud and clear. Once again- Holy Spirit was inside my heart jumping around and I knew God was reminding me that He is Lord and He has called me to do something to share His love, miracles, power, and glory with others. I love how sometimes God is so silent and subtle with His answers and other times He literally throws the answer in your face.

So, at this point I called my daddy and told him and told my mama and husband only. I was seeking prayers for them to calm my nerves and just discuss how this is about God- not me and so God's will shall be done. This is my greatest passion- glorifying God while educating others on good heart health and learning more and more myself about the heart and other's stories with heart disease/defects and stroke. From this moment on- I felt God encouraging me towards His purpose.

I remained the event a secret still, only telling my best friend and co-worker that I would be leaving work Friday at 3'oclock in order to be somewhere. Cryptic but she gets me.

I got home from work on Friday- changed into a red dress as red was the obvious attire for my interview. As I steamed the dress in preparation the night before, something caught my eye. I'd recently FINALLY gotten into the spare bedroom closet to pull out my fall wreathe. And in this closet in the way of my wreathe is a clear bag preserving my childhood treasures. One of these treasures in my red heart shaped pillow from MUSC Children's Hospital that I received when I was there most recently in 1995. On this pillow is a diagram ( to help a child understand their complications and how they were resolved). Once again....Holy Spirit started banging on my heart walls and doing His excited dance. I knew this was something I should take with me to this interview. I am thankful to have medical knowledge from my career in medicine (influenced by my defects) and my passions about cardio-thoracic surgery and am able to understand the full anatomy of the heart and vessels. I am able to explain my complications as a surgeon would- as would anybody else in my position. Spending your life in hospitals. Some more than I! I knew God brought it to my attention and so- I took it with me on Friday for my interview.

Friday- Eric drove me to Spartanburg to the WSPA news 7 station. And goodness y'all if we didn't run into HORRIBLE traffic!! We left the house early as to arrive 15 minutes early. I am truly a planner. But- I didn't plan for this much traffic. Plus it is already almost an hour away!

As we sat in traffic, I spoke to God. I was like You know what God? I am not even gonna worry about this traffic. If this were about me- I'd be having a panic attack trying to be OCD, high strung, planning, organized Emily. But You know what, God? This is YOUR interview. NOT mine. Let this be about You and what You want to say. Let this be about Your miracle, and Your will. And God- Your will is going to be what's gonna be anyway so hey! Let's do this traffic if that is how You want it. Yup. Literally. I told God all this. He is my daddy. He rocks at listening and understanding.

Get there-cool, calm, collected. We were greeted SO sweetly by every single member of WSPA and AHA Upstate. Eric came up with me. We get in the interview room- I wasn't sure what to expect. But let me tell y'all how real my camera fear is- I stopped drinking water when I got home from work because I was afraid I'd have to excuse myself to the ladie's room during the interview! This made my mouth dry! Hahaha! I am not lying when I say I plan everything. Same way when I run a race...I don't drink much before hand...I get anxious at the start line. But goodness do I drink during that race! Anyway----back to the point----we get into the room and sure enough...CAMERA. LIGHTS. yes...that was plural. I LOVE sharing my story- I do it rather daily and constantly- I love dancing in crowds, motivating people during activities, and I love encouraging others in hard or uncomfortable situations. You can put me on a stage and ask me to lead thousands in prayer or greet people. But put me in front of a camera and my anxiety shoots to an all time high. SO I smiled, took a deep breath, and moved forward with God's purpose. Remembering....God is on display- NOT me. This is God's moment - NOT mine.

The interview began- I shared my same story I've shared here, and on my old blog countless times. I was cotton mouthed, and I was shaky- but I delivered God's message. I spoke about my passions. I performed God's purpose for my life. and I pray God was glorified. I pray the Spirit of God was present to more than just myself in that room. I pray that I was an encouragement to anybody with struggles, heart disease, and major burdens in their lives.

I truly am thankful for my heart defects because they give God glory. How cool is it that God makes our weaknesses our strongest attributes? David and Goliath y'all...David and Goliath.

Anyway- I wanted to finally make this public in prayer that it helps others, and gives my mighty God glory! Thank y'all for the constant love and support. And remember- live healthy lifestyles- care for that body which is a temple we glorify God with! Love y'all!!

The Greatest Love of My Life

In June, June 20 to be exact...Eric and I celebrated our First wedding anniversary. 

Most people know we spent that time in Savannah, GA together. We explored the historic city, stayed in the nicest room at the beautiful Keyhoe House Bed and Breakfast, and had delicious food and wine. Best of all, the dessert at LuLu's Chocolate Bar! Chocolatinis and a place named LuLu's ?! (That is my nickname...well...one of them...) Favorite memory is finishing our dinner and dessert and running back to our room...I had to ditch my heels...and going out onto our balcony with a bottle of champagne and our white bath robes in the dark to wait for the many ghost tours that came by. Oh...our B&B was "haunted!" We would wait until the ghost story had a good start, then Eric would let out a loud blood curdling screech, and I would crouch over the balcony in the white robe. So many amazing reactions from the groups...laughter, screams, and wild facial/body expressions. But my favorite reaction of all to see was the huge smile on my sweet husband's face...just totally having a good time and so happy. That is all I ever want..his happiness.

So we came home from our trip, and we looked through our beautiful wedding album and shared our cake and wine. It was special and lovely and a dream come true!

But, the anniversary is only part of it. The marriage itself that God gave us... that God designed, the prayers that God answered for both of us....is just so precious. My prayer life has changed since I was single. I used to pray for my "husband"....whoever he was...I would pray that he was happy, doing well, and that he was turning to God for all of his decisions...I prayed that God would keep him on God's path for his life. I used to even get these spiritual pangs that "husband" was having a rough day or a rough time...and I would drop right there and pray...sometimes God would wake me up at 2, 3, or 4 AM and just call on me to pray for my "husband." When I did finally meet this man who would be my husband, I learned of all he had going on in his life just prior to us meeting. And while I won't share that...most people know, and those who do not, that is Eric's testimony to share. It is a beautiful and redeeming story of how God's will will always be done. God is so sovereign and mighty. I know Eric prayed for a wife who would truly love him to his core and for all that he is unconditionally, who would love God, and who would be his closest companion. And praise God, over three years ago, God brought these two longing hearts to the person that was meant to love them. but so much more than that...to the person who when joined together with them, God would be so greatly glorified. And that was always God's will and God's plan.

So now, my prayers have changed, and I constantly pray for the well being, joy, safety of my husband, but I pray constantly that God would be glorified through our love, that our love would be at least a small example of what God intended for love and marriage and the way God loves His children. Eric and I are two imperfect people. We are two totally different personalities. And we both seek God to be the head over us individually and the head over us as a couple. 

When we said "I do"... we were also making vows to God..primarily to God to honor His plan for marriage. It has made our marriage soooo incredibly and possibly almost inhumanely happy! We put God first, or always try to...we are still human and can get caught up in the world, but God is our focus...and when you love God more than your spouse, you reflect the fruits of the Spirit, and you reflect them onto the person you love most on earth. Which makes a beautiful triangle marriage of love. 

I am so thankful the past more than a year has been so blessed. Most people say the first year of marriage is the hardest...that you figure out all these things about each other and it wasn't what you were expecting. I have only felt that praise God and by God's grace, Eric and I grew so much closer together, trust grew deeper, respect grew deeper, and the desire to be with one another only intensified. I love him way more now than I did the day we said I do. And Praise God.

And for those people who say things like, "Oh just give it ten years...." First of all...I feel sorry for them. I am sorry that their marriages are obviously not on fire; that is truly sad....but I cannot stand for people to make such comments to me. If everybody knew and understood how passionate I am for the love of my husband, how badly I yearned and patiently waited for God to bring him to me.....I am not going to just suddenly take him for granted and stop desiring him or appreciating him! God is the heat of this marriage. And I can promise you now, truly 100% confident promise you that our marriage in 10+ years will only grow deeper and better. I'm only ever going to desire him more! He is my best friend and he loves Jesus. And God is our potting soil, our water, our lungs, our heart, our soul, our spirit, our everything. Honor and Glory to god forever and ever! That is the only way this marriage can be everything we desire it to be. God is the key ingredient. 

Here's to 100 more years baby doll! I love you sooo much! Thank you for selfless, precious, gentle, passionate love!

The Heart of the Matter

April  12, 2016

Today Eric and I visited my precious cardiologist for my bi-annual heart check up. This was only my second ever bi-annual check up. I usually have one a year. However, with things changing as seen 6 months ago, it was necessary to be seen twice a year.

So there we sat at Carolina Cardiology waiting to see my awesome Dr. It is so important to have a close relationship with your Dr. and praise God, I do! She came in, she checked me out, and here is what she had to say in short:

*I sound amazing and my heart is doing very well. She stated that the weakness she saw 6 months ago can now be considered a back thought. It is no longer pressing information. She sees that my heart is strong and able to handle a lot of physical stress and activity.

* She said my heart case was unique. (This is great!) This means that she expects and anticipates my heart to be weaker and weaker every time she sees me, she expects to see signs of decline in my ability, breathing, performance, feelings, however; I keep beating those odds. I remain active, always adding to my activity. I am able by the will of God to do strength training and dancing, yoga and running 4-5 times a week for 1-2 hours without fatiguing. A lot of normal people can't do this. And I mean, neither could I if God didn't live in me! Live in my heart! She is amazed at the lack of decline and the constant vivacious strong ability. She encouraged me to do all the activity I want and to not slow down!

* I asked her about having a baby again. Eric and I have our own personal plans for a baby (God willing) in the near-ish future. From the beginning she has been telling me that it is best for me to have a baby before the repair; this is still true. I am still high risk, meaning I have a higher risk of miscarriage. However, she stated I can be as physically active as I want to while I am pregnant. I can run and do my yoga and my strength training cardio all I want with little baby Gladden bouncing around in my belly...(God willing). I will not need to be on bedrest most likely. She stated of course we will still have to pay attention to what my body is telling me...but that I should have a very near normal pregnancy one day with just a few more extra Dr. visits. We will work more with that as that time gets closer. All of that I really want to leave in God's hands. I am convinced entering parenthood is the biggest thing Eric and I will ever do, so that ball is definitely in God's court! (Duh!)

*She then was able to tell me that I will most definitely have a biological valve. In previous posts you will see where I wrote about the differences in biological and mechanical valves. I will have a biological valve, which makes me happier because I WON'T HAVE TO TAKE A BLOOD THINNER!!!! I so didn't want to have to take one. I know that taking a blood thinner is no big deal, but I can't explain it....maybe you have to know me on a deeply personal level to help me understand it myself...but I really do not want to take a blood thinner. I don't like medicine. Plus I'm kinda terrible at taking medicine. I never remember it.And I don't look to medicine before I look to natural alternatives. Even though I work in medicine. Medicine has its place but...yeah. I prefer to use what God gave us first, then the things that man compounded of the ingredients God gave us to fix things. ;) Again, I agree medicine does have it's place. I'm just weird.

*She does not need to see me bi-annually anymore!! I am back to the one year visits again. I have an echocardiogram and extensive check-up next April. And this AMy 12, 2016, I will do an extensive stress test. I last did a stress test at 13. I am nervous. This one is more than running on a treadmill. They told me to be prepared to sweat. I guess since I so physically active they want to push those boundaries and see how my heart reacts. I have test anxiety! No matter what the test! I just want to rock it and blow them away and give them nothing to worry about! I want to do more than they expect me to be able to do! I'm an over achiever! :)

Today, I just want to praise God! The only reason my heart is "unique" and is taking "so long" to weaken is because God lives in it. He is there physically and spiritually. His joy and salvation definitely give me a better outlook on life. It gives me a positive perspective. And that alone is wnough to improve a man's will to live stronger. But God also literally healed my heart and He is the one Who is keeping it so strong now as we anticipate the future surgery ahead. Which at this point...I have no time guage on anymore. 3 years ago I was told I would need it in 3-5 years. Now today it is at least still that far off.

My selfish prayer is that God would give me a pulmonary valve and fix my tricuspid valve so that I never need another surgery. To me, it would be most glorious to God to suddenly have a pulmonary valve that was never a part of my body in the first place. Only God could create me a pulmonary valve out of thin air. And I know and belive He can. And maybe He will. But, what I need to remember when praying is to pray for God's will,to pray that God will be most glorified in my situation. That glory for God may come from me being admitted to a hospital and needing surgery. I may speak to another patient or Dr, or nurse and show them the faith in the Lord and how God heals or show them they can place their fears or live in God's hands. This may be where God needs me. God may make me have many more surgeries all my life just to continue receiving glory. And this I will do willingly and happily as my life is not meaningless or for myself. I live to serve and glorify the LORD. The Healer. And Him using my life for His glory is the most amazing way I could ever live my life!!

Anyway, that is the update for now. Thank y'all for the prayers! Keep God in charge of it all!