April 1 is my first yearbook deadline for this year. That means that I have to turn 1/3 of the pages for our school yearbook over to the publisher. I spent more than 15 hours at the school yesterday proofing pages and tightening up the layouts.

I couldn't help contrasting this year's deadline with last year's. I started on the BTD in June. Last March and April I was battling almost daily heartburn and trying to figure out how I could be feeling so bad when I was eating so "healthy." I remember the afternoon before the deadline working late at school and rushing home to pick up some supplies. As I dashed around the house, my daughter said, "Mom, you need to eat something." I snapped that Dad had promised to take her and her brother out for dinner. I didn't have time to eat; I had to get back to school. She said again, "Mom, listen to yourself, you need to take time to eat." I listened; I smiled; and I grabbed one of my son's power bars out of the drawer and bought a hamburger on the way back to the school. At the time I didn't know anything about how a type O should eat, but I remember tossing half the bun in the trash and being amazed at how much better I felt after eating the meat.

I knew yesterday would be hectic, and this year I was going to be prepared. I packed all the leftover veggies from the refrigerator into little plastic containers. There were 2 beneficials and 3 neutrals. I also took 1 ½ leftover chicken breasts, a bag of walnuts & raisins, a bag of carrot sticks, and an apple. I did a few pages and stopped for a snack. Did a few more pages, and had another snack. I was never tired and never frantic. The creativity was flowing and at 1 a.m. I was finished and pleased with my work.

This morning at church our pastor preached on Jehovah Rapha - the God who heals or the God who makes healthy. I am thankful for the abundance of food that God has provided for my benefit. God did not create French fries, or Twinkies, or 48 oz. diet sodas, or hydrogenated vegetable oil. He created food filled with things that nourish all the varieties of individuals that He made. God has worked through what I learned on the BTD to restore my health.