I could just cry with joy! I’m so happy to tell you that Trader Joe’s is coming to Athens, Ga!!! Yes, my precious hometown will have this wonderful, healthy, delicious and cheap grocery store starting 3 weeks before Thanksgiving. It will be behind Zaxby’s on Epps Bridge Rd. (extremely close to my house!). I am so, so excited about this. It’s gonna be great – SOOO convenient.
Trader Joe’s is like Whole Foods/EarthFare but way cheaper and more fun. I’m going to share on here what all I buy there and why I love it so much (at some point). And many recipes! Athenians, I really want this place to stay in business, so I encourage you to shop there like crazy!
While what happened to me was not preventable, I think it would have been almost unbearable sadness for me if it would have been. Prevention seems to be one of my ‘theme-songs’ to come from the stroke. Health is more important to me than ever. I was into health/wellness before my stroke, but it feels much more real now. I want to encourage people to wear seat belts, helmets of all kinds, exercise, eat healthy, take precautions, develop good nutrition and take good supplements etc.
My love for Trader Joe’s only furthers my stance. You can get great, healthy food there, and feel good about what you are eating. There are not chemicals or preservatives in the food. Above all, the stuff is really yummy! You will love it if you’ve never been there!
Speaking of yummy, I just want to take a minute to thank everyone who brought me cake/cupcakes while I was in Montgomery. Angie Stewart, I loved your pound cake! Sandra McGhar, that almond/wedding cake was divine (everyone should use Cake Designs for their wedding)! Patti Roper and Kathy Cooper, the Nancy Patterson Strawberry Cakes were delicious! Elizabeth Poundstone, that Chocolate Praline Cake was insane!!! – you are quite a little baker! Carrie Duke, that Coconut Chocolate Chip Cake was mouth-watering (everyone order one from 3 Dukes Bakery!). As you can see, I ate WAY too much cake in Montgomery, but I just loved it.
Now, I need some healthy stuff from Trader Joe’s!
P.S. I’m finally remembering to write something I’m grateful for! This one is simple: I’m grateful for what did not happen to me. I am not paralyzed. I didn’t go blind or become deaf (I am deaf in the right ear and the right eye is really messed up, BUT I can see and hear!). I was not severely burned. My spinal cord was not severed. I did not have an amputation. I’m not in any sort of permanently-altered condition. I am so blessed to be able to progress and heal daily. Thank you Lord!
Thank you to all who emailed me after my updated list of prayer needs. I, too, believe restoration will happen. I cling to this verse: ‘ “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds” declares the Lord‘ Jeremiah 30:17.