We Are 50 Million

I hope everyone is enjoying your week!  I pray you are having wonderful spring weather. 

I have discovered a wonderful benefit since I began blogging.  Being new to blogging, I did not realize all the bloggy friends that would enter my life.  Such a blessed feeling to have someone you do not know in person, to connect with you by blog.  I have found such a friend in Ellie of Little of This and a Little of That.  You can find her blog here.  She is such a sweet and encouraging soul. 

Ellie and I have more in common  than blogging, we both have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have learned a lot from her and she has been generous enough to allow me to share with you one of her informative blog posts.  See I told you she was sweet!  Please enjoy her post today and give her a visit. 

Thank you Ellie!!

Blessings to you all!!

 

“We are 50 Million”

March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month.  What does autoimmune disease mean to you?  Does it affect you or your loved ones?  This is a category of disease which  affects more Americans then Cancer and remains one of the top 10 killers of women under the age of 64.  This is very near and dear to me as I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis myself.  I was diagnosed in 2001.  I take several medications and an injection weekly to treat it.

During the awareness month, we ask supporters to take notice of the 50 million of our friends, family, and co-workers who suffer every day with one or more of the 100+ autoimmune diseases and introduce you to the “We are 50 Million” campaign.  “We are 50 Million” will spotlight autoimmune patient stories from around the country answering the question, “How Many of the 50 Million Does Your Family Represent?”  The answers to this question highlight important facts about autoimmune diseases which everyone should be aware of.  Supporters of this mission are also encouraged to text A-A-R-D-A to 20222 to donate $5 for the benefit of AARDA research by the Mobile Giving Foundation in order to help future research.

Did you know that?

1.       50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease comprising a major U.S. health crisis

2.       There are 100+ autoimmune diseases including: lupus, Crohn’s disease, celiac, Addison’s disease, vasculitis, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ulcerative colitis.

3.       Autoimmune diseases tend to “cluster” in families, for example, if your grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus, you could be at greater risk for developing an autoimmune disease. 

4.       Less than 13 percent of American’s can name an autoimmune disease and yet it ranks as deadly as Cancer and Heart Disease.

5.       Autoimmune diseases target women 75 percent more often than men and they are one of the top ten killers of women under the age of 64. 

For more information visit the official website at http://www.aarda.org/ or find AARDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/American-Autoimmune-Related-Diseases-Association-AARDA/128417011188.  

You can also visit http://www.westglen.com/online/18812.html to watch a special announcement from AARDA.

Read more: http://www.alittleoftheother.com/2011/03/we-are-50-million.html#ixzz1HX8aMgbx

Coping

I have shared with you before that I live with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Finding ways to cope is a daily challenge.  Coping can make you stronger.  I have had to realize that I can decide how to LIVE with RA.  I know that I have to be kinder to myself.  My family does not do as much we used to.  There are days when I can do nothing but sleep all day, giving my body a chance to recover from a flare.  I make an attempt to do as much as I can.  I do feel like a burden to friends and family.   RA has made it difficult to go out with friends as much due to my limitations.  I am slow and at times have to go in a wheelchair.  But I have made a new decision, I have made the choice to begin inviting friends to my house.  I have enjoyed some wonderful lunches and dinners with friends at my house. This creates a much more cozy environment and I do love cooking.  Food, the sharing of it, preparing something for someonehas always been and expression of love to me. I learned this from watching my Mother.  If ever anyone was ill, she would prepare a meal for them.  If there was a death, a birth, Mom would bake bread or a cake to take. Christmas time, friends received homemade breads, pies or cakes.  My Mom is an amazing cook, so everyone looked forward to these gifts.  At Thanksgiving dinners, Mom made everything imaginable, herself.  It was all oh so good!  Birthdays brought homemade cakes.  Nothing store bought for her family.  She mixed in love and we all could taste it!  It truly does taste so much better.


One cake I remember so fondly from my childhood was Mom's sheetcake.  It seems as if she always had one on hand.  It was also a regular at any potluck.  I recently decided I would make it for my family...a hit!  They loved it too. 


I wanted to share this cake with you here:

Mom's Sheetcake


Preheat oven to 375; Coat a 15x10 pan with cooking spray


1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup water
4 tbs cocoa powder
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs




Place flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl.  Melt together the butter and water, whisk in the cocoa powder.  Heat until boiling.  Remove from heat and mix in the cocoa mixture with the flour mixture.  Add in the sour cream until mixed well.  Add the baking soda and eggs and mix well.  Pour into the prepared pan and place in the oven for 20 minutes. 


When the cake has about five minutes to go, begin to prepare the frosting.


1/2 cup butter or margarine
6 tbs milk
4 tbs cocoa powder
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract


Melt butter in saucepan, add milk.  Whisk in the cocoa.  Heat until bubbly.  Remove from heat and stir the powdered sugar and vanilla.  If a few lumps of sugar remain...all the better.  Some like to add nuts.  Since my family does not like nuts I do not add them. 


While the cake is still warm, pour the frosting on to the cake. 


It is great while still warm.  It also taste good leftover. 


I hope you enjoy!


One friend came to lunch and I served this cake for a desert.  She said, "This reminds me of growing up."  "Me too!"  I said. 


Showers of Blessings!