Wednesday, February 24, 2010

And now...a new gem from the Land of Absurdity*

Dr. Rolf Grossklaus is the chairman of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This is what they do:

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by FAO and WHO to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The main purposes of this Programme are protecting health of the consumers and ensuring fair trade practices in the food trade, and promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

He has stated publicly that "nutrition is not relevant to health."

Um....okaaaayy...


WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


*This Land of Absurdity I speak of is my pet name for the government regulators of our food.

!! ACTION ALERT !!

I am heartbroken to inform you that my beloved John McCain has authored a bill that would essentially take away a big chunk of our health freedom. It is unbelievably imperative that we take action on this matter! I have included several links that will take you directly to letters that can be sent to your representatives. Below is the explanation of what this bill changes and what it takes away from us. I IMPLORE you to take part in this activism!!!

*If we don't take action now, in the next 5 years, we will not have access to VITAMINS that have not been produced by Big Pharma!!! We all know how that has served us in the food industry.

On Feb 3rd 2010 Sen. John McCain introduced a HORRIFIC bill, S.3002 called the "Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010" (DSSA). If passed as written, this bill would result in the disappearance from store shelves of many nutritional supplements currently on the market, and give the FDA unbridled power to destroy smaller companies by moving production of supplements to larger pharmaceutical companies. Your legal right to access supplements and herbs will, quite frankly, be a thing of the past.

Help stop this legislation. This page has links to 5 websites. (Citizens For Health and Natural Solutions Foundation, have the same letter.)

You might want to use them to compose or cut/paste your own letter.

Please take action immediately and send a letter. Tell your senators NOT to co- sponsor this detrimental legislation and to do everything in their power to defeat it. Then forward this to your friends and family and ask them to
do the same!

You can find the full version of the bill here:

These are the links to the representative letters:

Monday, February 22, 2010

Swimming...

...in my thoughts, that is. I will be posting, soon...I promise. Something I wasn't expecting when starting this whole blog experience...an influx of information and questioning my way of life in places I wasn't even looking. There is much reflection happening...much real time shifting in my personal creed. I planned on this being a project of behavior change. I really didn't foresee it taking on a life of its own in my head and heart. Silly, I know...no change is true if it doesn't involve a change in your head and heart. But, what I'm feeling goes beyond that. I set out to start making my own bread, yogurt, etc...I didn't realize I would begin to question everything that is important to me. I really thought this would be more of a food/health change. Turns out...it's a complete life overhaul. Bear with me...I am gathering myself. This is how I work...I digest, I come to terms, and then I get clarity. Then I share...beware.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Authenticity

As of late, I have been feeling VERY stagnant. I feel blah all the time...and not just physically. I have this unprecedented (for me) feeling of apathy, but my heart wants passion and joy, and I want desperately to be one of those women that rolls with the punches, that keeps her chin up, and maintains her ability to keep going at all costs. I'm not one of those women...at least not yet. I am more the throw-me-a-curveball-I'm-gonna-shut-down-an-not-do-anything, types of women.

So, in my effort to shirk this flat-lining person that I currently am, I have been feeling the need to purge...and I mean EVERYTHING! (This is a terrifying notion to my husband, because I REALLY like to get rid of stuff. I come from a family of "stuff" hoarders, so I start to suffocate if there is something in my house that I don't need...and boy do I like to give stuff to Goodwill! It makes me giddy.) I felt it coming on a few weeks ago, so when I opened the latest issue of Natural Health magazine and saw a 20 page spread on detoxing your entire life...from your body to your pantry to whole house...well, it opened the floodgates. Visions of a garage sale & a pile of giant black trash bags on the steps of the Salvation Army, danced in my head. Oh boy...it's ON!
(*I love Natural Health magazine. I'm coo-coo about recycling, so I don't really feel bad about my magazine problem, but let's be real...I DO have one. I love them and they love me.)

So, today, I started my walk-through process, finding things that I want to sell, things I want to give away, etc. I am beginning to realize how much stuff I have that I don't actually LIKE. I began to wonder about that, and it dawned on me that I have a serious "what will they think?" issue. I've never really noticed this about myself, before, but I am highly motivated about what other people are going to think. I began to examine this yesterday, when I was in a store that I love. I picked up this throw pillow that was REALLY quirky, and I loved it...but, I immediately thought, "oh, so'n so would think that was silly." Ok, just to clarify...this "so'n so" hasn't been to my house in years. Neither have any of the other people for whom I regularly sensor myself to please. Weird, right? I have been living in such a way, that I answer to imaginary people in my head all the time, when trying to make decisions for myself. I mean...THEY don't need to be comfortable in my skin or my home...I DO.

So, here's the thing. My mission for this year, is to live authentically. I am going to do my best to make decisions, decorate my house, and anything else I can think of, to please my Heavenly Father, my boys, and myself. It's not that I'm going to completely disregard others...it's just that if I want to by a flour sac pillow for my living room, with a giant, aqua marlin on it, or get another tattoo...or (this is a big one) get my 32 year old nose pierced...I'm gonna.

Other people's expectations are baggage. I'm not talking about people expecting you to be nice, or the government expecting you to follow the laws, or God expecting you be a good steward of the things that He gives you...I'm talking about what other people want you to BE, in order to satiate their own need for self-justification. If you are an earthy girl at heart (which I am, and always have been), then by all means, live that way. If you are buttoned up Alex Keaton, who was spawned of two hippies...then live like that. I don't think that one needs to be an afront to society or a complete kook to live authentically, either, though.

My goal is this...not to indulge my every whim in life, but to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, temper certain things for my husband and my son (i.e. not dreading my hair, though I have always wanted to try it, because my husband loves it as it is), do the things that give me joy (regardless of the eyebrow raises I'll get from certain people), and to live as ME. I am going to set aside anything that doesn't help me achieve that goal...person, thing, habit, or mentality.

* So...if you don't feel like you can hang out with me, if I am a healthy, fit, exuberant, nose-stud wearing, traditional food-eating, family loving woman of God, whose house might just have a big green dresser or lots and lots of star paper lanterns in it...then we should probably wrap up our relationship sometime in the next year or so...'cause I'm leaving this slobby lump of self-imposed limitations on the side of this trail of tears, and I'm going to write, sing, cook, travel, run, and yoga my way to Happytown.

You comin'?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Comic Relief

My son and I are watching Olympic men's figure skating last night. There are many flamboyant male skaters, but none more than the American Johnny Weir. He was wearing a self-designed outfit with hot pink cut outs, not to mention he has skin that is more perfect than a runway model. He's brilliant on skates, just, how do you say it?...MASSIVELY self-expressive! Anyway - my son is enthralled, giving his commentary in between practicing his own single toe loops, when he catches sight of Johnny. Here's the exact string of words that came out of my 3 year old child's mouth...

"OH! Look at that girl!...no, her's a guy. No, him's a girl...NO, now he's a guy. (furrowed brow) It's a...it's a...it's a GUY-GIRL!!"

(Back to practicing his single salchow).

My mom and I were crying.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Me Mondays (on Tuesday): Letting Go

First of all, I want to apologize for the lack of posts the last few days. Yesterday, we drove home from San Antonio, and when I got home, I spent my computer time doing research and sourcing equipment for my e-courses! That being said, I'm glad I didn't post yesterday, because today I was faced with a great subject that I believe most can relate to, and that is, in my opinion, pivotal to the process of making a family whole...especially in this society.

Today was my Costco/Whole Foods/grocery day. I was walking around, looking at all the stuff I normally get, and suddenly got really overwhelmed. First of all, most of the things I would have readily picked up, I stopped short of, because I'm "supposed to start making that." Other things I wanted to go for, I was looking at through a new filter...the one that is educated about what goes into making the product, and how damaging it is to health. To top THAT off, I was all of a sudden realizing the foods that would no longer be a part of our family's diet...some favorite recipes...others that might taste different. Let me just stop here and tell you...we are a family that is taste-obsessed! We're kinda like a taste clique. If it doesn't taste good...we will turn our nose up to it so fast, it would blow your mind. I hate admitting that...what with all the starving people out there. Seriously, though...I have brands that I like and I'm a texture elitist like you wouldn't believe. So, it poses a certain amount of bereavement when I think of having to reset my status quo. It actually kind of annoys me...which is the catalyst for quitting every single other thing I've ever done in my life. So, this time, I'm looking at my life, seeing the fruits of those times I've quit on myself, and realizing this: It sucks RIGHT NOW...EVERY day! I feel like crap all the time! I don't even want to know what a doctor's tests might reveal in my body. So what should annoy me worse...having to learn to like new food, and live a different way...or dying before I'm done raising my son? I'm not trying to be hyperbolic...you don't see this stuff coming...it's just steals up on you, one compromise at a time...and then BAM! your family is mourning you. Thanks anyway - but if I can prevent that...I'm going to. I'm just sayin'...can you imagine the person you love most in the world passing away, and then having to deal with the fact that they could have stopped it, if they had just done what was necessary? Y.U.C.K!

All things worth doing are daunting before you do them. Examples: rebuilding a broken marriage, losing 130 pounds, overcoming an addiction, becoming debt free, raising a child. However, you never hear a SINGLE person, who has lamented the absence of the things they had to let go of, in order to have the life they have afterward. In fact, most times, they can't imagine wanting the things they used to believe they couldn't live without. So, here's the thought for today...let's declutter our mentalities...all the unnecessary junk that is weighing us down...holding us back from the life we want...tell it goodbye, blow it a kiss, and move on. The first step away from something is always the hardest!

A year from now, I am going to write a post about how I just finished the Austin marathon with my best friend, and how I can't imagine wanting to eat commercial pasta ever again...mark my words!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

I'm 'bout to get schooled, folks!

Well, my project is now officially underway. There is a book that I love (it's in my recommended selections on my Amazon.com widget), called Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. It's full of wonderful, traditional whole food recipes. I love this book for many reasons, but the big one, is that it was the book I used when I made all of my little boy's first foods. Since I didn't give birth to him, I couldn't breast feed. The next best thing I could do, was make sure I wasn't loading him full of processed, powdery weirdness that I coudn't stand the smell of, anyway. So, for the first year of his life, I homemade his formula and babyfoods, based on the Nourishing Traditions recipes. It made me feel wonderful being able to do that for him, and it saved us a bundle of money! Not only that, but he was, and still is, one of the healthiest children you will ever meet. I attribute that to the nutritional foundation he got as an infant...something that I was able to carry over into his toddler years. That's a post all on it's own, and I definitely WILL post it, but for now, let me tell you about Nourishing Traditions.

Sally Fallon's book is FULL of information on eating traditionally. It's absolutely wonderful...although, not for the faint of heart. In this way of eating you soak your own grains, make your own flour, create your own broths, make your own yogurt, etc. Now, to some, this may sound purely ridiculous. I understand that, I really do. There are aspects to it that I just plain can't see myself doing...much less eating. I will not...I repeat...will not be eating organ meats (liver, kidney, heart)...I'm all for whole food, but I have an equal opportunity gag reflex, and folks...it's just not going to happen. Fermented foods...ok, well I will eat sauerkraut like there's no tomorrow, I LOVES me some red wine...but, I lean towards...what's the word?...NO, when it comes to eating things that have essentially spoiled. I am thrilled at the thought of making my own yogurt and sourdough starters and simply CANNOT wait to make my own cheese, but there are aspects that I find difficult to envision. As you can imagine, for someone who lives in this convenience-obsessed, ready made society, this may be a little overwhelming.

Enter...GNOWFGLINS (God's Natural, Organic, Whole Foods, Grown Locally, IN Season)!

I have just signed up for a series of E-courses, taught by Wardeh Harmon, on gnowfglins.com. I am so thrilled to do this, I can't even tell you! She basically takes the Nourishing Traditions book, and walks you through it in these courses...showing you how to do it through practical application. I will most likely be updating on a weekly basis on these courses, and hopefully, it will bring me as much information and joy as I expect! More than that, I hope it brings me and my boys that much closer to health, the way it was intended. So...with that being said, say a little prayer for me, as I learn to create bacteria and sprout grains, and pre-digest proteins:) I'll let you know how it works out, and how much of my mindsets are changed...as I'm sure they will be:) Here's to health and freedom!

P.S. If you're interested, I have placed a green button on the side of my blog, and a banner at the top. Both will take you to the Course overview! I hope you'll join me!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Comic Relief

OK...so you will either completely relate to this next tale of woe, or you'll be thinking TMI. Either way, I don't care...it personifies my life in a way that little else could.
  • The Scene: fresh out of the shower.
  • The Setting: humid bathroom.
  • The Protagonist: me
  • The Antagonist: my boobs (being that they are painfully large)
  • The Plot: trying to put on my bra.
  • The Climax: finally got said bra hooked onto my damp torso, trying to pull the straps up, and BAM!...punched myself in the jaw so hard that I literally saw stars.
  • The Resolution: airing this publicly, on the internet, in hopes that others will relate, in which case I won't feel like such a tool for giving myself a possible concussion whilst attempting undergarment application.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

New Post coming...

I'm so sorry about the delay in posting. I came to San Antonio yesterday, and my ability to get articles out took a hit, as a result of my forgetting my laptop...I know...what?! Anyway - my husband's computer setup is less than desirable, so I am working on a new post, and will be getting it out tomorrow. Thanks for your patience:)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Baby Steps: Green Cleaning

Until now, most of my posts have been glorified journal entries with very little practical application. I don't feel bad about it...I just really want to make sure that when people read, they take something away...tools, kinship, education...whatever. I will still write posts that read like journal entries, because, that's who I am...a thinker and a feeler. It is, in equal parts, one of the best things about me, and one of the worst. It makes me understand things more deeply than your average citizen, but it also makes me all philosophy...not much, um...do-losophy. (That's right, Webster, I did just make up my own word...whatcha gonna say?) One of the things that's been holding up the show on giving practical information and tutorials, is the vast amount of information there is to convey...it's hard to know where to start. So, I've decided to start with a couple of areas that I have been successful practicing whole living for several years...cleaning & skin care. Today...it's all about the house, and how to clean so that you're comfortable if your child licks your countertop...like mine did, today.

The chemicals and residues that are in conventional, petroleum based, cleaning products are terrifying. With neurological disorders in children becoming as prevalent as chicken pox once was, it blows my mind what they approve of putting in products that we spray all over our surfaces, wash our dishes with, and clean our floors with. Chlorine & conventional kitchen degreasers (perchloroethylene & toluene) are volatile chemicals, neurotoxins, and human carcinogens. Why, when there are FOODS that double as awesome cleaners, not to mention wonderful products that have been on the market for generations, long before most of these chemicals were developed, and still make their products exactly the same way? For instance, Bon Ami (replaces Comet) and Murphy's Oil Soap (replaces TONS of things) do not contain chlorine, antimicrobials (largely responsible for the super-viruses that are now becoming a huge problem), phosphates, dyes, or artificial fragrances. `

Luckily, cleaning without chemicals is not only easy, but it's MUUUUCHH cheaper! When I say "much cheaper", I don't mean, you can save a few dollars a month...I'm talking, I don't remember the last time I bought a cleaning product, save dishsoap or laundry detergent. I save literally HUNDREDS of dollars on making my own, or buying bulk. Some of the ready made products I love are as follows:
  • Dishwashing liquid...(Seventh Generation...absolutely cuts grease, and is most times cheaper than leading brands. Smells awesome & available pretty much everywhere now!)
  • Toilet bowl cleaner...I could use other stuff, but I LOVE Ecover Pine so much, that I just buy that.
  • Dishwasher Soap...also Seventh Generation...usually buy it every 3 months or so. (I only run my dishwasher when it's stuffed.)
  • Laundry detergent...as you will learn, Costco rocks my world, and their brand Kirkland has a 1.5 Gallon liquid detergent for about $12.95. It has plant based, biodegradable cleaning agents (palm and/or coconut)made from bio-renewable sources, contains no phosphates or dyes, is cruelty-free, and has lavender essential oils for scent. For 110 loads...I generally buy it every 3-4 months.
  • Laundry boosters...I use plain 'ole 20 Mule Team borax; Mrs. Stewart's bluing liquid for whites (my whites are CRAZY white...much better than when I used bleach); Fels-Naptha soap bar. I just rub a toothbrush on it, brush it on stains before they set in, and that's that.
  • Orange oil. The best way to find this is going to feed stores or tractor supply stores. It can be a bit pricey...but, you will almost see another generation before you have to buy more.
  • Dr. Bronner's ANYTHING - but for cleaning, his pure castile soap, or Sal Suds are best. I mix these with water in a re-used spray bottle, and it serves as my counter cleaner, floor mopping solution...anything. Added bonus: it smells GREAT!
  • Plain old white distilled vinegar. I bought several spray bottles, a huge vat of the vinegar, and I use that for cleaning the bathroom (sinks, mirrors, faucets, & everything but the bowl of the toilet). It is the most versatile cleaning agent out there. It mix it with lemon juice, baking soda, club soda...whatever job I want it to do, but most of the time, it's just straight...I don't even dilute it.
  • There are plenty of other ideas in the book Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck. (You can find the book on Amazon.com...just look on the right side of my blog for the widget...it's in my recommendations.)

I know lots of my "homegirls" out there like to use the handy bleach wipes for messes. Well...I have a fun solution for that, too! It's all about the Viva paper towels. They stand up well to being soaked for an extended period of time, and they really do mimic the ones you buy at the store. I get an empty bleach wipe dispenser, a roll of Viva, and my favorite cleaning agent (most of the time I use the vinegar, but also on several occasions I have used a Dr. Bronners solution & love that as well). I make sure the container is completely washed & dried out. Before you do anything else, fill the container about 1/3 the way full of your cleaning agent. Next, take the roll of Viva, and lay it on a flat surface. I basically just start unrolling, by rolling it...i.e. take the edge, and start a new roll. I always try to make it even, and I don't make it too tight, because you want to be able to get them out. Using the container, I measure when I have enough rolled off, then tear it off. Again, using the container, I figure out how long I need it to be (the roll is longer than the container, at this point), and use a serrated knife to cut it to size. The paper towels will soak up the cleaner, and voila!...cleaning wipes. *note: You may need to check them several hours after you do them, just to make sure your towel/cleaner ratio is just right. You don't want them to be too wet, but you don't want them to dry out on you either. No worries, though...you can just add more if they get dry!

I realize that was a long explanation, so PLEASE let me know if there is anyone out there who needs me to do a tutorial with pictures. I haven't done that, yet, because well, I don't have a camera that will download to my computer:) That will be changing very soon! I can break any of this down further, give tips and other detailed information if the need arises.

PLEASE consider getting rid of the chemical cleaners you may have in your home! They are simply NOT necessary to get your home clean, and they are harmful to you and your family's health!
P.S. I have been doing this successfully for over 5 years. I thought I would miss the smell of pine-sol and all the other things that made my house "smell clean" to me, before. Now, not only do I not miss it, it makes me physically ill to go into the cleaner aisle of the grocery store! Natural smells are wonderful, and if you need them...there are always essential oils. Not only will they add glorious, God-made scent, but several have disinfecting properties of their own! Besides...nothing smells better than orange oil:)

Monday, February 8, 2010

Me Mondays: Self - Discipline

This is definitely not a situation where I am regaling you with anecdotes of how I once was a slovenly lump, devoid of energy, and then through the powers of self-discipline and sheer will, I transformed into a high-energy, organized, healthy, when-does-that-chick-ever-sit-down woman of God. Nope...I'm still the slovenly lump. My definition of "me time" and relaxing is still to sit on the couch. I am still sitting at the bottom of this mountain, looking up at it, and believing I can't get it done.

The truth about all this is...I have a ton of knowledge about how to live healthy. I spend my free time in research, I expend LARGE amounts of energy ensuring that my child is as healthy as possible. I love working out, I love workout clothes, gear...heck, I even get workout magazines. But, alas...I have a self-discipline problem. Yes, I've been depressed and lonely, and I've used food for companionship and to mask certain pain...and, for a long time, I had no idea what that was. But, now, it's been identified, I am fully aware...and I have no excuses left.

Here's a story, that I am ashamed to tell, but it gives the picture of the depth of this problem. Last week, my son and I made chocolate chip cookies. (He loves to help me cook more than anything else in the world.) The next morning we woke up, I was brushing my teeth, and he appeared around the corner with one of the cookies. I was very concerned, grabbed it away, and told him that it wasn't OK to have a cookie first thing in the morning. I proceeded to tell him how it would make his blood sugar spike, and mess up his adrenal levels all day long. (This is a tactic I use to ward of the "why?"s. I give him a true and complicated explanation so that he doesn't care anymore:) Silly, but I was TRULY concerned. It's terrible for your body to do that, and I was aghast that my son's body would be treated in such a manner. (Like I said, I'm nutty about his health.) So, having warded off that evil, I went into the kitchen to make him some scrambled eggs and toast...(organic, free range eggs, scrambled in extra-virgin coconut oil, and whole wheat toast), opened the refrigerator to get the ingredients out, and...wait for it........ATE THE COOKIE MYSELF! That's right...that which I was mortified to let happen to his body, I was more than willing to accept for my own. What?! WHY!? I don't hate myself...I think I'm quite nice, actually...save a few grizzly character flaws, and I think I have OK self-worth. I think it comes down to habit...a momentum that was set during those times of depression and lonliness that is still with me.

Throughout this blogging experience, I will explore all the habits that need changing, but self-discipline is the DOOZY! It's the one that guides and determines all the others. However, I don't believe that it's possible to just DECIDE to have self-discipline. In Colossians 2:20-23 it states "2o. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21. "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22. These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Ok, so maybe that's why I've failed at this for so long. I have been relying on my own success or failure to make the difference.

So, here is my challenge this week. I am going to spend the first chunk of time in my morning to get in the Word, to talk to God, and unleash the Holy Spirit. I don't think I need to waste any more time trying to figure out what's wrong with me. I just need to go to my life-source. So, how about it? Will you commit to get up every morning and give your first time to God? Do whatever it takes, for you, to make it happen.

One of my favorite teachers, Joyce Meyer, says "Do what you know to do, not what you feel like doing, and then what you feel like doing will catch up with what you know to do."

Leave me comments about how you are doing, or any other concerns so that we can encourage each other, and make this a REAL change...one that sticks, makes new habits, and resets our momentum.


Saturday, February 6, 2010

It's a woman's prerogative, after all...

Sorry about all the template changes...I'm having a hard time finding one I like:) It'll be like this for a bit, but then something will reach out and grab me, and tell me that it's the one. Thanks for being understanding:)

Friday, February 5, 2010

You say "Hippie" like it's a bad thing...

Here's the thing. I keep asking myself what I want out of this "whole" project. The issue with going whole in this society, is that you are at constant odds with the world around you. Those of us who believe in natural healing, whole food, getting back to basics...we live as antitheses to the relentless pressing to live conveniently, to keep up...to keep consuming all they have to give.

My husband and I had a conversation a couple of months ago about the world our son will be a part of. I was lamenting that he will most likely never be required to look something up in a page and binding dictionary or encyclopedia, or for that matter, ever read a book that has a smell...or that he would even have to turn pages on. He will never NEED to look something up in a phone book. We began to talk about all the tasks that will be obsolete to him, as everything is becoming (or has already become) a push-button situation. We began to wonder if the idea of "effortless living" was something that we wanted to pass on to him. Really? What's good about not putting any effort into anything? I was more than a little moved to see the movie Wall-E...the people in the future never moving from their seats that do everything for them, that have no more bone mass left, never eat anything not processed, and can't even walk? WHY in the name of all that's holy would we want to live without effort? And what genius called that living? Let's explore just SOME of how this is working for us, so far:

Not 2 months ago, I read an article in the news about how the U.S. military officials were going to Congress to address an unprecedented issue. They needed help finding a solution to the fact that the young adults, usually fresh out of high school, that were coming into the recruiting offices were failing their entrance requirements at a startling rate. Why? Because they are testing too low on "basic intellect" and "physical ability". Basically...they're too dumb and too fat! We've all had dorky, less-than-athletic friends from high school sign up to be in the military, and then return after six weeks as Oh-my-word-they-made-him-hot? desirables, right? Break this down with me...the kids that are graduating high school RIGHT NOW, and are going into recruiting offices are so under-educated and so physically handicapped by weight, that they are NOT ABLE TO BE RECRUITED FOR BOOTCAMP! According to the "Ready, Willing, and Unable to Serve" report, put out by the Mission: Readiness group, "About 75 percent of the country's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service, largely because they are poorly educated, overweight and have physical ailments that make them unfit for the armed forces, according to a report issued Thursday.

Other factors, such as drug use, criminal records and mental problems, contribute to what military leaders say is a major problem that threatens the country's ability to defend itself " Yeah...remember when flat feet was the issue? Uh, OK....I'm moving to my own island.

Seriously, though. Our country has made so many "medical advancements", and we have expert committees on everything from toothpaste to psychiatric drugs, and yet, we are placed 37th in the world (behind the Dominican Republic!) for the prevention and treatment of disease, according to the very latest stats from the World Health Organization. We have the FDA, the AMA, the OMGNHPAQ (Oh My Gosh Natural Health Practitioners Are Quacks) committee, the OMGMAM (Oh My Gosh Midwives Are Murderers) committee, the SYKFOEDWDLW (Stuff Your Kid Full Of Every Drug We Designed Last Week) committee...but, I ask you...how are we doing? Are we healthier? Are we happier? Has all of our information made life better for anyone? Seriously...I'm in tears right now. I don't even have the energy to give you all the sourced stats...just watch your news, just read any newspaper, just go to any school and watch the children who are outside of it...just hear yourself screaming inside for reasons you can't even pinpoint.

I'm not happy. I'm not healthy. I feel like crap ALL the time. I have NO energy...EVER. I don't remember the last time I woke up feeling rested. I'm scared ALL the time...and I don't know why. I have so many wonderful things, and the truth is...half of them are constant sources of frustration for me. What's the deal? The deal is, I have a self-discipline problem that is exacerbated by the constant pull of the strings on my back...the puppeteers being those who decide who lives and who dies...those who decide what will be readily available in my robotic waiter that comes up out of the side of my fancy hover-seat, once they've finally killed all life on earth, and therefore have us right where they want us...sick, disjointed, and floating like space junk in a craft that is ultimately run by a computer! Every fiber in me rails against this...because I have a little boy, who grows like bamboo, and I want him to know a mama who has joy, and I want him to know how to chop wood, and how to cook a meal from scratch, and heck...cook a meal from scratch that he grew from scratch. And, (little peek into my conspiracy theorist mind, here) if and when the crap hits the fan...I want him to know how to survive. I want him to have resources beyond button pushing, and I want him to be thankful that his parents taught him how to live off of GOD's land...from HIS bounty. Heck, he could be the first president of the United Nuked States of America.

So, if you want to know why....that's why.

Note: sorry, my Georgia ran out of ink, so I had to switch to Verdana?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Chair

It's a pretty simple philosophy. Japanese people, specifically in Okinawa, are some of the healthiest, and well-aged people in the world. Not to mention they have more centenarians than any other country on the planet. There are several reasons why this is, but the philosophy behind it is what sticks out to me. In this country, we aren't a "big picture" society. We bend and sway with every passing trend wave, and unfortunately, that doesn't end with our view on health and wellness. The Japanese, however, have a "whole" view of living fully. They view wellness as a chair. That chair sits on four legs which represent the different aspects of health...all carrying equal weight. The four legs represent :
  • Physical
  • Emotional
  • Mental
  • Spiritual
Each leg is equally as important as the others, and no leg can hold the chair up on its own...nor can the other three hold the chair up in the absence of one.
Interesting to say least. Try to think of one person you know who is physically fit, emotionally stable, mentally steady, and spiritually dead. OOrrrr, you could look at me...I'm emotionally stable, mentally steady, spiritually alive, but my physical fitness is, well, non-existent. So, as a result, my emotions suffer, my mentality suffers...my spirituality is dampened. My life could be so much more. I guess that's why I'm doing this.
Food for thought.

  • If you want to read more about the Okinawa centenarians, read The Okinawa Program by Bradley Willcox.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Family Unity

In this society, it's easy for kids to feel untethered, like they're floating alone on the winds of the world. Oh sure, everyone is hyper-connected to technology, but, the days of face to face connection, human touch, connection to nature...those are dwindling at a startling pace. It's vital to the mental, emotional, and physical health of the family, that we start to re-weave the fabric of the home base. Everyone, but especially children, need to know they have a soft place to land...a place where they are safe, the people are on their side, and where their needs and desires are a common priority for those who they share their home with.

I've so appreciated the campaigns for family dinners that have been hitting the airwaves in the past couple of years. There are so many reasons that dinner as a family, AT THE TABLE (not in front of the TV), is pivotal to unity.

*Breaking bread together is a Biblical and psychological bonding tool. It is a practice that promotes emotional intimacy & conversation...both vital in staying connected and involved in each other's lives.

*It is a scheduled opportunity for parents to observe their children. A daily face to face meeting is the easiest way to ensure that you see demeanor and nuance changes in your child, to share stories and make sure that you aren't missing something that could prompt needed change in your interactions with them, or even more, that there isn't something happening in their lives that you may need to pluck them out of!

*It's solidifies tradition and provides time for fun, laughter, and decompression. Everyone needs to be heard, have a laugh, or just to blow off steam. It's imperative to provide a safe place for those things to happen.

There are so many fun things that can promote family unity. Something I'm working on right now, is family bracelets. I found beads with our initial on them and a wonderful tree motif that so symbolized our family to me. I'll post a tutorial once I have them done:) One thing I've already done is the family creed. I just wrote it out on a piece of paper, and we posted it on the frig. I do want to do a more permanent project for it, but for right now, this is fine. Here's what it says:

U - unconditional love
T - tight-knit family
T - total commitment
E - every day priority
R - real; rooted in Christ
B - believers
A - authentic
C - crazy in love
K - kind to each other

This is what we stand for, as a family. These should be our priorities always! We are a tree - with our roots in Jesus Christ. May our fruits be a blessing to our world & a legacy for years to come. May we weather every storm, that we will be champions!


These fun little projects shouldn't take the place of practicing actual unity, but they can serve as little reminders that "we are all on the same team."

Other fun things: family hugs, family secret handshakes, family language, etc.
Be Creative!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Comic Relief

So, I just made a pasta dish with sausage, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and mozzarella. Jax sat, eating his dinner, looking at his bowl, and pausing between bites. All of a sudden, his face lights up, he looks at me, and says, "Hey Momma! Sumpin' in here tastes like pizza!" Yeah...he just turned three:)

Tuesday Tribute: Brandon

I have often said, that if I were married to anyone other than my husband, they would more than likely be buried somewhere under the house by now. (I wish I could tell you I was totally joking about that.)

Brandon and I have been together for nearly 11 years now. In 2 months we celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary. I can honestly tell you, that when I look back at how much I loved him the day we got married, (and it was CRAZY LOVE), it looks like an elementary school Valentine's party, compared to the love I have for him now. I am so honored and so blessed to be his wife...it's what I like to call an embarrassment of riches. What makes him so special? The reasons are countless, and in many ways, I don't even know how to express them all, but let me see if I can capture the awesomeness that is my husband in just a few of them.

First and foremost, he is humble. This particular aspect covers so much ground in the success of our family, because it makes way for growth. Our marriage has grown and deepened and rooted down in ways that are rare, in this day and age. He always attributes the success of our relationship to me, but what he doesn't know, is that I'm built for marriage. Relationships are like breathing to me. It takes no special measures for me, because I'm a woman...most of us are wired that way. Brandon is simply willing...to make changes, to stick with me while I make changes, and to measure his success as a man, by how solid his marriage and family are. He is selfless and kind, and he loves us more than anything in this life.

He is brilliant. There is such a security knowing that, when faced with any situation, my husband will be able to work through it, do any job he's faced with, and do it well. Don't tell him I told you, but he's WAY smarter than me;)

He is in love with his son. We were given a son in a VERY unorthodox way. We weren't expecting him, we didn't have any idea he was coming...we just woke up one day, and BAM!...we went to bed that night as parents. Our adoption was very difficult on me, emotionally and mentally. The first few days were a practice in literally keeping myself from being completely consumed with panic. I was like a deer in headlights, and out of fear, held the whole experience at a proverbial arm's length. Not Brandon...from the moment that our little boy landed in our home, he was his dad. He embraced him with a complete peace, a complete heart, and his whole self. He stayed calm and steady, and NEVER lost faith for a minute. From day one, he was the very picture of what a father is supposed to be...the spine, the foundation...the rock. He held us both in his big, capable arms, and led the way to our family. Even as I write this, I am realizing that, without him there, I would have completely fallen apart. Now, 3 years later, there is nothing that moves him more than seeing our son grown, than experiencing a new day with him.

He is my best friend. I don't say that lightly. He is the brightest spot on the canvas of my life. Several friends have told me they wish they could clone him, and I think the reason for that is, that he is such a friend to me. He is honest with me, he roots for me, and nothing ever seems real to me, unless I've talked to him about it. It doesn't even really matter if he says anything...as long as he's the one listening, I can make sense of anything.

After all these years, he still makes my stomach drop. I am completely at home when he is with me...no matter where we are. I won't bore you with all the gory details, but I am most certain that when we are old and gray, (he, significantly older than me;), every time I see his bicep flex...I'm gonna swoon:)

In all seriousness, I will wonder every day for the rest of my life what I did to deserve the man that is my husband. I am so grateful to have a man who loves me every day, the way that Christ intended, and that he is who I want to spend every minute, of every day of my life with.
He's my lobster:)

Monday, February 1, 2010

Work from Home opportunities!

This is an awesome site that has helped me tremendously! It's hard to even think about other whole family issues when your income and finances have blown a hole through your life. If you are a stay at home parent, this article may be very helpful if you are riding the wave between your taking care of your family and wishing you could contribute to the income in your home. (Like me:) I hope you find it helpful...he's the real deal! Just copy & paste this address:
www.christianpf.com/legitimate-work-from-home-jobs

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