Saturday, April 21, 2007

Bird Song

A few days ago, Paul had opened the kitchen windows and was allowing a gentle breeze to filter and float through the house. Springtime is always such a joyous time. New colors adorn the landscape. New leaves of shades of green, yellow appear on the bare trees. White and pink blossoms begin to fill the wooded areas that surround our house. The hue of the water in the pond even seems to be brighter and happier. It seems to welcome the ducks and geese. The turtles have been sunning on the rocks. Paul had counted twenty-one while fishing the other day.

All of life seems to be revived and new. For some unknown reason, no one had turned the TV on in the kitchen that evening. And, as I was setting the table, I heard a faint chorus of song birds. Their song had started quietly until the other birds, not to be undone, began to sing along. Finally, it sounded like three or four different types of birds were chirping and singing brightly as the sun began its descent in the sky. These birds were singing to honor the glorious day where God's presence had filled a small piece of the earth.

Their song caused me to pause and listen. Mark walked into the room and I looked up at him and started to say something about the music. He was listening too. After enjoying the song for a few minutes, he quietly said, "Isn't that beautiful?"

Beautiful. It was beautiful. Amazing that these little creatures who have to brave the elements, dig and hunt for their food, stop and take the time to praise the Creator. There seemed to be urgency in their song. They needed to be heard. They knew they had to sing and use their gift of music to show admiration for God and to praise Him. They sing to the unseen God not even realizing the joy they give to those unseen people who simply pause and listen to their song. They were created to sing. It is their destiny and they follow it.

Amazing and wondrous.

I now feel compelled to stop and ponder my song. Do I sing my song of thanksgiving each evening to this wonderful God that created me? Do others get to stop in their hurried lives and join in with my rejoicing and then humbly say, “Beautiful?"

God teaches and preaches to me gently. He leads me by the still waters and the marvelous song of the birds. He poses the question, “Debbie, are you living the destiny and purpose for which I created you?” He asks each of us. The birds’ song has begged me to search my own heart and life and seek out only God’s purpose and calling.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all Creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Blessings,Debbie

Monday, April 16, 2007

Some more diet news.....

This is our fourth day on the 90 Day Immune System Makeover and things are going good. One of the best things, for me, has been that I have NOT been awakened during the night at all with the severe leg cramps! This is amazing. I also purchased a 4 inch Serta memory foam topper for our bed which arrived on Friday, too. God seems to be working all this things together.

Three wonderful nights of excellent sleep. This is making a huge difference in the way that I feel, too.

Back to the effects of the makeover. I have lost about 7 pounds. I have successfully come off caffeine and already my head is clearer. We had a cold front come in and usually that causes me to have pain in my joints especially my hands and shoulders. However, since coming off the sugar, I have not had that experienced joint pain with this weather change.

From what I am reading, refined sugar is very damaging to our bodies. I told Mark yesterday while driving to church, that if I need to totally stop eating the stuff in order to feel good, that I was willing. I have been feeling so very bad and that has an impact on all areas of your life. I plan on living at least another 40 years and I want the same health report on me that Moses had at 120 years old!

I remember years ago that my doctor told me that I always needed to keep my weight below the chart level because of my bones. I am tall, a little over 5' 7" but I have narrow bones. He said that extra weight or even weighing the chart weights would be hard on my bones and that I would develop problems. He told me this when I was in my 20's. I was not overweight in my 20's. In fact, I weighed below 130 pounds. But, in your 20's, you think that you are going to live forever. You don't think that your body is going to fail you and you take your health for granted.

So, that's where we are at on Day 4 of our journey to good health.

Blessings,
Debbie


Saturday, April 14, 2007

Books that I am using to help us GET healthy!

I meant to include these titles in the blog below.

I am reading three of Janet Maccaro books:

1. 90-Day Immune System Makeover - this one I highly recommend. I am trying to follow all of her suggestions. Her testimony is excellent and will motivate you to try and get your body back in balance as intended by God.

2. Midlife Meltdown - I started reading this book yesterday. This morning, I read Mark some things dealing with men's health issues.

3. Natural Health Remedies - I've just started looking at this one. It appears to have some good information. It takes health issues and discusses natural remedies. I am very interested in the section dealing with asthma.

The other book that I orderd but I haven't started reading it yet is:

SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by StevenG. Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Matthews.
The foods listed that are considered SuperFoods are: Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Oats, Oranges, Pumpkin, Wild Salmon, Soy, Spinach, Tea, Tomatoes, Turkey (Skinless Breast), Walnuts, and Yogurt.

As I read more of all the books, I will try and remember to post about some of the most helpful or interesting findings.

Good Health!

Blessings,
Debbie
Th

Day one is over!

Yesterday on the system clean-out both Mark and I developed killer headaches. No surprise since we are both lovers of coffee.

I have bought to replace it Decaf Green tea, dandelion tea, and chamomile tea. All of these teas have some beneficial properties.

1. Green tea - antibacterial, protects against some forms of cancer, heart health protection, and aids in fat burning.

2. Dandelion tea (not my favorite taste) - Cleanses liver, aids in increased bile production, Cleanses blood of uric acid and toxins, thus preventing abscesses, boils, and rheumatism.

3. Chamomile tea - helps with stess, anxiety, and insomnia. Good for indigestion.

(The above information taken from: Natural Health Remedies by Janet Maccaro.)

Mark and I are both taking 1 teaspoon of dark cherry juice concentrate three times daily. This helps with gout. Mark's toes are already feeling better. I am taking it to reduce swelling in my hands and fingers.

To aid in cleaning us out, we are using Nature's Secret Ultimate Cleanse. I bought this from the health food store. The instructions are pretty easy.

The other part of this cleansing is drinking a green drink. Now, when Mark smelled our green drink (the powder mix) his comment was, "Debbie, this smells like cow manure." In its defense, I don't think it smells like that. He did drink it mixed with 8 oz. of orange juice. I did too. The green drink gives you an energy boost.

Well, so far - we have complete 1 day! We are 1 day closer to feeling better.

Oh, we are supposed to do thirty minutes of walking or some form of exercise three days a week while cleansing.

We plan on walking today.

Blessings,
Debbie

Friday, April 13, 2007

Today is the first day of my immune system make-over!

I am finally biting the bullet and going to try and start feeling better. I had ordered the book 90-Day Immune System MakeOver by Janet Macccaro. It came in the mail on Wednesday. I started reading it after church and yesterday I spent a small fortune at the health food store. This book directs you in how to clean out your system of toxins. It is also a wheat, dairy, red meat, refined sugar and caffeine free program. I read in the book, that we will feel worse before we feel better. When I was purchasing the stuff at the heath food store, the lady selling me the stuff, told me the same thing. Fun.

You will basically get flu-like symptoms. So, I imagine this is going to be a joy-ride. NOT! I told Mark last night that we HAD to come off the coffee. So, he make a half pot this morning and I can smell it sitting in the kitchen - calling my name. I reminded him that we are NOT supposed to be drinking caffeine. He's not a happy camper and actually sounded angry with me and asked, "How am I supposed to get through the day." He then processed NOT to have any coffee.

Here's the deal. I want Mark to do this with me but I am not going to be his personal diet police. I also asked him the read two books (I also bought Mid-life Meltdown by the same author.) and his EYES glazed over and he told me that he didn't need too and he would just do as I instructed him to do. grrrrrrrrrrr. I want him to understand the process.

Michael told me that he wanted to do it, too. But, he needed to wait past today so he could have the fried fish at college.

Yes, they are both committed to this program. (insert eyeroll)

Paul has a bass guitar lesson today. So, I guess I need to shower and get him up to get ready.

Blessings,
Debbie

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

In an attempt to lighten my mood.....

I thought that I would share a few funnies from the past few days.

Lauri's 18 year old son found out that I will be getting braces. His comment was, "Why? At your age? Why do you care what you look like?"

Sigh. I told him that my teeth were shifting and moving forward and the dentist had said that I could end up losing my teeth.

Aaron says, "How? Are they just going to pop out?"

LOL

Later that day, his MOTHER gave me the meanest birthday card about getting age spots. I said, "I need to go have laser done and get rid of them!"

Aaron heard me say that and told he that he didn't understand why I cared and that it was a waste of money. And, when he gets old...... he will do it gracefully.

I hope I can remind him of ALL of this in 30 years. hehehe

Yesterday while teaching piano one of my little 1st grade boys pooted really loud and then started laughing. I asked him if he had brought a trumpet to his piano lesson. To which he told me that his older sister poots at their dinner table everyday.

I told him to STOP telling on his sister because she will not be happy with him. He told me it was only the truth.

hehehe