Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist
On the Road Again: Back to the Amish Iridologist
In Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist, I will discuss the journey where most of my family came to visit Reuben and meet Jake Shirk, his apprentice. Here we go again—back to see Dr. Reuben Schwartz, the Amish Iridologist, as he looks into my eyes once more. This time, our journey took us back to Hestand, KY. Thankfully, the trip wasn’t too long, just about four hours.
The night before, I packed H’s bag with all the essentials: pull-ups, wipes, a baggie, extra clothes, three stuffed animals, a banana, gluten-free snacks, and two movies. I also made sure the kids did their chores before bed—nothing like waking up to a mess. And, of course, everyone had to bathe. Because kids. And kids smell.
The Journey Begins
Morning came, and the kids ate quickly, got dressed, and piled into the van. Once we hit the interstate, Big Daddy took the wheel, I caught some much-needed sleep, and the kids watched a movie. A perfect setup.
Due to a ridiculous amount of road construction—and the fact that Dr. Reuben lives quite literally in the middle of nowhere—we arrived about fifteen minutes late. They were waiting on us, and I could tell it was creeping close to dinnertime. The Amish do not miss dinner.
Meeting Jake Shirk
Jake Shirk, Reuben’s apprentice, was there to help, so he took the boys to one room while I stayed with H and G. Mr. Reuben got to work. Out came his little crucible and utility flashlight as he leaned all the way into my personal space. The man smells like Melaleuca and love. I kid you not. His bright eyes, crisp clothes, white beard, and piercing blue eyes—all topped off with that warm, engaging smile. He is honest, kind, and an absolute joy to know.
The Results Are In for the Kids
G: Her “rages” stem from an unhappy left ovary. Dr. Reuben noted she had this issue before she even came to us. He also detected pneumonia scarring from before she joined our family. On top of that, her thyroid is struggling, affecting her weight and stress levels.
N: Stress, thyroid, adrenal gland issues, digestive system concerns—and he needs to drink more water!
D: Stress, digestive trouble, and potential heart issues. This one took us by surprise, but Dr. Reuben’s son even asked if heart issues ran in the family. We had to quietly explain our unique family dynamics.
J: Stress, digestive issues, not enough water—but then came the kicker: “Lay off the sodas.” We laughed. He only drinks water and milk. However, Dr. Reuben spotted pre-diabetic markers. This concerned me deeply. Ethiopians typically don’t have diabetes. He’s only twelve. We’ll be following up with his pediatrician to check his blood work. Mama is not messing around.
Big Daddy and Me
Big Daddy: Dr. Reuben asked about his joints (cue collective laughter—his knees are shot). He also nailed his thyroid issues, stress levels, lack of water intake, red meat consumption, and, of course, his heart health.
Me: When Dr. Reuben finished his assessment, he leaned back in his chair and said, “Good grief, you are under tremendous stress.” I shrugged. “I’m as good as I can be.” Then I asked what made him think I was stressed. He laughed. “Your eye is telling me you are under stress.”
I told him about the last two weeks—how every night, I either hurt, vomited, or had diarrhea. His response? Straight-up stress. He said my body needed to calm down.
The Weight of Stress
What struck me the most? Every single one of us—every child and both parents—had stress show up in our eyes. This past year has been nothing but one giant stress ball.
And I hadn’t even realized the toll it was taking on my kids.
That hit hard. As a mom, I should have seen it. I should have recognized the weight they were carrying.
It’s clear—we need a family meeting. A serious one. We may need to step back from some things. Our family’s mental health has to take priority.
Stepping Back
I know life is overwhelming right now. Seven kids. So many irons in so many fires. The anniversary of my Lady’s passing is looming. The house is in chaos because we’re painting. My living room is currently shoved into my bedroom. H is struggling at school. And a family member is breaking my heart.
I have to step back.
It’s that simple.
Now… how to do that?
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