Tuesday, September 29, 2009
F-R-E-S-H!
Are you feeling FRESH today?
As I promised, today I want to share my Top Five Tips For Regaining Your Health. How have I decided that these were the most important five? Well, after reading numerous books and articles, having listened to wise people who have studied far more than myself and after experiencing issues of my own as well as observed others' habits and health problems, I have concluded that we need a FRESH perspective on good health and nutrition.
Much too often, we try to complicate things; we think that it really must take a genius to know how to make it in business or to have a successful family or to understand the way our bodies work. When we think this way, our tendency is to feel overwhelmed -- to think that it is beyond us -- and therefore, we excuse ourselves for not trying anymore.
I would like to encourage you -- to let you know that it is the simple, seemingly insignificant actions in life that truly make the biggest difference. Having been a perfectionist with unrealistic expectations for much of my life, it has sometimes taken me awhile to realize this and I have stumbled along the way. I am still learning and will continue to do so; this is one of the things that makes life exciting!
We do live in the age of information overload, though, and this began to frustrate me a while back. I finally decided that if I just went 'back to the basics' -- what God originally created as food for us -- that everything would be much simpler and my mind wouldn't feel so cluttered with the latest research on what vitamins to take or not take, on the virtues of coconut oil or the dangers thereof, etc. ad naseum.
So, after a bit of thought and study, these are my conclusions regarding regaining one's health or maintaining an already healthy body. I hope they make sense to you. If we keep things simple in our lives, embellishing them here and there, I believe our lives will flow more smoothly -- even as we encounter rocks, thorns and brambles along the way.
To make them easy to remember, I have placed the five tips into the word FRESH:
Fresh whole foods -- fruit, vegetables (including greens), whole grains and nuts
Rest -- the most rejuvenating sleep is before midnight
Exercise -- get your body moving at least 30 minutes a day
Sunshine -- at least 15 minutes a day (with no sunscreen)
Hydration -- 8 - 10 glasses of purified or distilled water per day
It is amazing how God created our bodies to operate so efficiently -- like a well-oiled machine -- when we treat it as He intended -- as His holy temple. Like nearly everything else, we humans tend to corrupt and pollute things when we stray from the simple truths found in He gave us. I am guilty of such and I am forever grateful for God's undeserved favor, grace and guidance.
I hope the FRESH approach will enable you to take control of your health. Your health is your responsibility; it is not the doctor's or the government's or anyone else's job to see that you maintain good health and nutrition. As Charlotte, my dear friend and mentor says (I'm paraphrasing), "God has given you only one body; in this life you can't get another one so take care of what you've been given."
In the next five articles, we will take a look at the tips -- one letter at a time.
I look forward to any comments or experiences you've had as we are here to learn from and support each other!
Here's hoping you have a FRESH day today!
TodaysHappyMom
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Freak Out!
So ..... there is presently baking soda and salt sprinkled all over most of the carpets in my house. Why? Trying to de-flea! Aaaaaaack! Have I seen fleas hopping around on the floor? Noooo, but ...
On the 4th of July we brought home a stray kitten from town. Unbeknownst to me, it was FULL of fleas! Eeewww! I really don't know WHAT I was thinking -- I'm allergic to cats, for crying out loud. Guess my heart got ahead of my head.
Needless to say, we had to find a new home for the kitten but unfortunately, before she left here, she shared her "joy" with our miniature schnauzer Gunnar, an inside dog! Poor Gunnar. He's been dipped, washed, sprayed and shaved to the point of looking like a Chihuahua!
Since fleas are known to populate rapidly, it freaks me out just a wee bit to think that they could be hiding in the carpets and upholstery and who knows where else! Hence, the baking soda and salt; it's supposed to dry them out and basically render them infertile or some such thing. Regardless, we're taking somewhat extreme measures in an eco-friendly way to ensure the reduction of any possible flea population -- AND to preserve my sanity!
Oh, I also ordered some Kleen Green Enzymatic Cleaner due to arrive in two days. I will be attacking the house and Gunnar AGAIN with a vengeance!
So, while I'm schooling my son, preserving the harvest, hangin' with my girls and keeping the hubby happy, I also get to de-bug! Lucky me! ~Sigh~ Oh well, time to get out the vacuum cleaner and Whistle While I Work!
On the 4th of July we brought home a stray kitten from town. Unbeknownst to me, it was FULL of fleas! Eeewww! I really don't know WHAT I was thinking -- I'm allergic to cats, for crying out loud. Guess my heart got ahead of my head.
Needless to say, we had to find a new home for the kitten but unfortunately, before she left here, she shared her "joy" with our miniature schnauzer Gunnar, an inside dog! Poor Gunnar. He's been dipped, washed, sprayed and shaved to the point of looking like a Chihuahua!
Since fleas are known to populate rapidly, it freaks me out just a wee bit to think that they could be hiding in the carpets and upholstery and who knows where else! Hence, the baking soda and salt; it's supposed to dry them out and basically render them infertile or some such thing. Regardless, we're taking somewhat extreme measures in an eco-friendly way to ensure the reduction of any possible flea population -- AND to preserve my sanity!
Oh, I also ordered some Kleen Green Enzymatic Cleaner due to arrive in two days. I will be attacking the house and Gunnar AGAIN with a vengeance!
So, while I'm schooling my son, preserving the harvest, hangin' with my girls and keeping the hubby happy, I also get to de-bug! Lucky me! ~Sigh~ Oh well, time to get out the vacuum cleaner and Whistle While I Work!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
"When You're Smilin', The Whole World Smiles With You!"
Three months ago this past Saturday, my dear talented, handsome and loving father went home to Paradise to live with our Saviour and Gracious Lord Jesus Christ. This was one of the saddest days of my life, but it was the absolute HAPPIEST day of Dad's life!
While my mother, siblings and close relatives and I were crying, Dad was singing and laughing and Livin' It UP with Jesus and Grandma Rauch and Homer Ritchey and Doyle Martin and Mike Dexter and many more friends who reached their forever home before he did -- and because we KNOW where Dad is and that his joy is beyond measuring, we who are left behind are able to endure the pain of his absence. The edge has been taken off a bit from the sharpness of the pain because of the incredible HOPE we have in the saving grace of Jesus Christ -- a gift from God, freely given to those of us who accept it.
Dad went through the process of dying just the way he lived -- with integrity and trust in God. He taught us about the JOY of our salvation because of our ultimate destination and he lived out that joy and trust until he took his last breath. He did not fear death because he knew that was the way God ordained for us to reach Paradise.
Did he question God's timing (he was 67) and means (cancer) of taking him home? Yes, yet at the same time, he knew God was in control and that all would be well no matter what.
Is it OK to question? Certainly. It is what we humans do -- children question parents, employees question employers, God's children question Him. When we don't like the answers -- or when we don't even receive an answer -- that's when our trust has to kick in more than ever -- and this is NOT an easy task for most of us, yours truly for sure.
One thing I know: God's grace and strength is sufficient WHEN we need it. It is amazing, really! He enables us to remember Dad and to celebrate his life and legacy with a thankful and joyful heart even in the midst of our sadness.
Dad maintained his sense of joy and humor throughout his illness and the last days of his life. He not only showed us how to live, he modeled for us how to die and for these things I will be forever grateful.
Those who came in contact with him during his illness always went away inspired because of the confidence Dad showed in God and because of how it was evident that Dad was making the most of each moment he had left on this earth, doing what gave him (and GOD) and his family pleasure: riding his motorcycle, singing with the River Valley Boys, preaching and spending time with those he loved.
Because he was smiling, we smiled too. And because I KNOW he is smiling and laughing and singing right now in Paradise, I can smile and laugh and sing too, while I'm living on God's beautiful green earth! It's what he would WANT me to do! And we WILL see each other again!
While my mother, siblings and close relatives and I were crying, Dad was singing and laughing and Livin' It UP with Jesus and Grandma Rauch and Homer Ritchey and Doyle Martin and Mike Dexter and many more friends who reached their forever home before he did -- and because we KNOW where Dad is and that his joy is beyond measuring, we who are left behind are able to endure the pain of his absence. The edge has been taken off a bit from the sharpness of the pain because of the incredible HOPE we have in the saving grace of Jesus Christ -- a gift from God, freely given to those of us who accept it.
Dad went through the process of dying just the way he lived -- with integrity and trust in God. He taught us about the JOY of our salvation because of our ultimate destination and he lived out that joy and trust until he took his last breath. He did not fear death because he knew that was the way God ordained for us to reach Paradise.
Did he question God's timing (he was 67) and means (cancer) of taking him home? Yes, yet at the same time, he knew God was in control and that all would be well no matter what.
Is it OK to question? Certainly. It is what we humans do -- children question parents, employees question employers, God's children question Him. When we don't like the answers -- or when we don't even receive an answer -- that's when our trust has to kick in more than ever -- and this is NOT an easy task for most of us, yours truly for sure.
One thing I know: God's grace and strength is sufficient WHEN we need it. It is amazing, really! He enables us to remember Dad and to celebrate his life and legacy with a thankful and joyful heart even in the midst of our sadness.
Dad maintained his sense of joy and humor throughout his illness and the last days of his life. He not only showed us how to live, he modeled for us how to die and for these things I will be forever grateful.
Those who came in contact with him during his illness always went away inspired because of the confidence Dad showed in God and because of how it was evident that Dad was making the most of each moment he had left on this earth, doing what gave him (and GOD) and his family pleasure: riding his motorcycle, singing with the River Valley Boys, preaching and spending time with those he loved.
Because he was smiling, we smiled too. And because I KNOW he is smiling and laughing and singing right now in Paradise, I can smile and laugh and sing too, while I'm living on God's beautiful green earth! It's what he would WANT me to do! And we WILL see each other again!
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