A PRAISE Report!

The last three months since Dan's heart attack have been filled with doctor's visits, travel to Cardiac Rehab, and doing all we can to get as healthy as possible, together.  All of this work was in anticipation of a required test (an echocardiogram) that would determine if Dan could go back to work. 

Because of the need of an IMPELLA device to save his life after the heart attack, it took him a lot longer to recover. The IMPELLA device chews up the body's red blood cells while it is pumping blood, and it takes the body 3 months to replace those red blood cells.  So for the first two months, Dan was quite weak, and his blood pressure remained low, as did his energy levels.  

Around the end of the second month, we began to notice a dramatic improvement in his energy and blood pressure, and began to feel more confident that when it came time for this test, he would get a passing result.  

We praise God that he not only got a passing result, but was only 3 percentage points away from his heart pumping completely normally!  He needed an ejection fraction of 40% to maintain his CDL license to drive a semi-truck.  Normal ejection fractions are 55-65%. We are praising God that his ejection fraction came in at 52%!! Isn't that incredible! We were so thrilled, and so were the doctors! In fact, he had a scheduled appointment to come in and discuss the echo, but they cancelled it. Imagine - a doctor canceling an appointment! Yes, no need to come in - we will see you back at the 6-month mark. Praise God! 

So Dan returned to work this week! He is learning to listen to his body's cues and not push himself so hard. This is hard for all of us - but especially for men! He now carries aspirin and nitroglycerine with him always, and knows to stay hydrated, take things slower, and be more in tune with the needs of his body. 

We give praise and glory to the Lord for this miraculous turnaround in his health, and thank each one of you for all your prayers in this journey!  

We also give thanks to the Cardiac Rehab team for this success, with all the excellent information that we received, where he learned how to care for his body, and pay attention to its signals. 

In an upcoming post, I want to share some of the things that we have learned in Cardiac Rehab and pass them on to you. Perhaps it could save your life, or a loved one's life! Heart disease is the LEADING cause of death in our country. Much heart disease can be prevented with lifestyle and dietary changes.  We learned that Dan's heart disease was genetic, but still, there are many things that we can do to keep our bodies healthy and strong as we age.  

The day Dan went back to work, there was a little "snafu". He was able to leave without incident, but as Ryan began to leave, he found the wheels of his semi-truck were frozen to the ground. This required me hooking up our 4x4 pickup to Ryan's truck and jerking it off the ice at 5:30 in the morning! This saved us a $500.00 tow bill! Whew! It was a crazy start to the week! 

It has been pretty cold here, but nowhere near as cold as many other places in the US.  We are grateful for the wood stove and the heat it provides! 

We've been enjoying my hot cacao and chicory drink. While being really simple to make and tastes delicious, it provides incredible anti-inflammatory benefits for your body! Here is the simple recipe:

Hot Chicory Cacao Drink

1 Tbsp organic cacao powder

1 Tbsp powdered instant chicory

1 Tbsp creamer or milk of choice

Sweetener to taste (I use 1 dropper of Stevia Sweet Drops)

2 cups hot water (not boiling)

Add the cacao powder and chicory to a large mug. Stir in the creamer until the cacao is mostly dissolved. Slowly pour in the hot water, stirring well. Sweeten to taste and enjoy.

Rich, smooth, and deeply satisfying, this drink is better than hot chocolate—I promise. It makes a wonderful coffee replacement in the morning or a gentle afternoon pick-me-up without the jitters. Drink to your health! 

CACAO POWDER BENEFITS

Why use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder?   Cacao powder in its raw form is most beneficial (which is why you don't bake with it; use it only in smoothies or with hot water).  

Cacao powder is rich in antioxidants called flavanols, which help protect cells, support heart health, and improve blood flow. It contains magnesium, iron, potassium, and fiber, all important for muscle function, energy, and digestion. Cacao naturally supports brain health by enhancing focus and mood through compounds that boost serotonin and endorphins. It may help lower inflammation and support healthy blood pressure when consumed without added sugar. Cacao also provides gentle stimulation from theobromine, offering sustained energy without the jitters of coffee. 

CHICORY ROOT BENEFITS

Chicory root is a powerful source of inulin, a natural prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria and supports digestive health. Inulin helps improve bowel regularity, enhances mineral absorption, and supports a healthy immune system. Chicory root may aid blood sugar balance by slowing glucose absorption and improving insulin sensitivity. It also supports liver health and gentle detoxification. Naturally caffeine-free, chicory root is often used as a coffee substitute while still promoting mental clarity. Together, chicory root and inulin contribute to better gut health, reduced inflammation, heart health support, and overall metabolic wellness when included in a balanced diet.

 

We've had a lot of ice this winter! Treading carefully, we enjoy our morning walks! 

We had a "Girl's Day Out" recently, and I was happy to watch the grandbabies in the car while they napped. We had so much fun! 

Look at these precious little "tootsies". Baby Clara is growing so fast!  

Enjoying a cozy evening at home with our wood stove, in our recliners with the cats on my lap. I love being able to rest like this during the winter! 

Cold Sunshine! It was 8 degrees as we walked, and our horse friends greeted us as we walked by. 

Getting some more snow today - Riley and I enjoyed the walk as the snow gently fell. 

Danika has become quite the climber, and her parents have created a safe place for her to climb and play.  She is 14 months old now and saying quite a few words. Her mother has taught her sign language, and she is also learning Spanish too! 

Her favorite thing is still books! Lots and lots of books! 

Little Clara is getting a diaper change by her daddy. She sure loves her daddy, just kicking and cooing away at him! 

Having some grandma time last weekend! We had friends over and made homemade sourdough pizza.  Baby Clara took a nap with me, and Alanna made the pizzas. We had so much fun!

Sourdough pizza is so delicious - that is all we make now.  So much better than store-bought or yeast versions, in our opinion.  Have you made sourdough pizza yet? 

I wanted to let you know that my January special is still running! You can purchase all 4 of my books/calendar for $50.00 with free shipping in USA. Please message me at mountaintopspice at gmail dot com and we can make arrangements for payment and shipping. 

Also! My dear friend Cheryl  at HOMESPUN DEVOTIONS is offering a giveaway with these 4 books! So please stop by and enter her giveaway (just leave a comment!), the last day to win will be this Friday, January 30th! A big thank you to Cheryl for sponsoring this giveaway! I appreciate it so much! 

In this season of rejoicing that Dan has been able to return to work, my heart cries out to the Lord for mercy on those who are suffering with unbearable needs that seem insurmountable.  Every time the news reports share another alarming headline, it can be easy to feel hopeless as you hurt for those who suffer.  

It is in these times that I step outside, and I look up. I look up to the mountains. The mountains cannot help me.  But the mountains remind me that the Lord is steadfast, He is near, and He has always been close.  The mountains remind us of steadfastness, being resolute, and remaining calm in the midst of changing situations. The weather on the mountains is always changing, with such beauty to be seen in their midst, but the mountains themselves don't change. They remain steadfast and firm.  

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1

That is my prayer today - to look to the Lord, and trust in Him always, and never let my focus be on the storm that rages or the struggles that we face, but rather to look to Him, who is unchanging, loving, gracious and merciful. 

I hope you enjoy the video I chose to share today, featuring some of my dearly beloved mountains here where I live.  Much love to all of you!