This little beauty has been elevated to best friend level. Why? Because raw almonds have recently been helping me in ways I never imagined. I bought them to help restore my health and the profits are astounding!

In early January I was suffering from much pain. After 4 nights of very little sleep because of the roller coaster of either taking pain pills so I can sleep, but then waking up gagging on stomach acid or not taking pain pills to keep my tummy happy, but then not sleeping because I could not get comfortable.

I had tried every antacid on the market, but nothing was helping. My stomach and esophagus were raw constantly. Then I read that by popping 5 raw almonds into my mouth every few hours throughout the day would alkalize my acidic system. Lo and behold, it worked. I mean wonderfully. Now I eat a few raw almonds a couple times of day to keep the acid reflux at bay and it is HIGHLY successful.

If I eat something that upsets my tummy, I pop 5 raw almonds into my mouth and find peace restored to my system quickly.

My blood pressure has been climbing for the last 2 years since all my health issues reared their ugly heads. I was amazed when visiting the doctor's office to find my blood pressure was down quite a bit. Research disclosed that raw almonds can normalize blood pressure too.

Here comes my shocker! Did you know the almond is NOT a nut? This came as a revelation to me. It is actually a seed inside of the almond fruit. The almond tree is related to the cherry, peach, and apricot trees. Looking at these almond blossoms help me to see the truth indeed!

They remind me of Asian artwork. Something I am privy to since I have a daughter in love with ALL things anime, manga, and Japanese. However, my fascination is not for the same reasons. It is because once again, I am forced to contemplate if I truly believe a blossom this beautiful happened by random chance or was by intelligent design by a God who created all things for a purpose?!?!

And in that moment, fear's deathly grip on me is loosened. I stand in awe of the God who was, who is, and who is to come. In that second, I don't fear the valley of the shadow of death. The Lord's rod and staff comfort me. He anoints my unworthy head with oil. My cup runs over with His love, His mercy, and His grace. I am nothing and He is everything. I am satisfied.

The Lord's blessings to you!

As the World Health Organization Phase of Pandemic Alert continues to escalate, many of us are contemplating what we might do to protect our families. I would like to share with you some options and any pros or cons of which I am aware. None of this is medical advice, simply information. First and foremost, make certain you are covering your family and friends in PRAYER during this concerning time!

1. Surgical Masks: The CDC website says they do work, even though for some reason they are being played down right now. The only downside I can figure is that if they give you a false security in which you expose yourself to more dangerous situations. Also do not neglect handwashing because you are wearing a mask.

To learn more about choosing proper maks or respirators, please visit http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/masksrespirators.html .

2. Hand Washing: This still continues to be the most effective way to avoid the flu if you come into contact with germs. Washing for 30 seconds in soap and water is very effective. Using an anti-bacterial soap containing Triclosan cannot be recommended as it is very controversial, many believe it is what makes you more susceptible to antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. However, alcohol based hand sanitizers work very effectively. If you are going to use alcohol wipes/swabs or hand sanitizers, you should also consider keeping lotion on hand to moisturize after killing bacteria/viruses/fungi, as you do not want your hands to start drying out and cracking open, leaving a new portal for infections.
   

3. Elderberry/Sambucus Syrup, Lozenges, Pills: Elderberry long used in jam and marshmallows has been scientifically proven to fight against the flu, only if it is Sambucus or Sambucol type of Elderberry. It is 96% effective as either a proactive measure of keeping the flu at bay or reducing the flu symptoms to an average of three days with very mild flu symptoms. It works much like Tamiflu as it inhibits neuraminidase, the enzyme used by the virus to spread infection to host cells, but without all the side effects. Nor does it become less effective overtime. It can be bought over the counter. In Israel, Sambucus is highly touted by the scientific community for its flu fighting abilities.

4. Vitamin D: Supposedly many Americans are now deficient in Vitamin D. I think this is entirely possible since we tend to have become more of an indoor generation, preferring computers and TV to a walk in the park or going on a picnic. Vitamin D helps build the immunity system. Vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle aches, muscle weakness, and bone pain at any age. Recommended direct sunlight exposure (without sunscreen) is 5 to 15 min (suberythemal dose) to arms and legs, or face, arms and hands, at least 3 times a week.
   

Please feel free to ask any questions and I will try to find the answer if I don't know. Blessings to you!

It has been several days since I last posted. I was taking some time to focus on HOLDING to my plan of action. I have to tell you that I have been going to bed earlier, eating MUCH healthier, and getting exercise.

I do read my "Reasons" card a few times each day. I am forcing myself to sit at the table when eating.

My plan was VERY TOUGH the first few days. It was LABOR intensive. Yet, as I stick to following through, it is becoming easier. By sticking to a nutritional plan, I am ensuring that I nourish my body with essential fats, fiber, protein, etc each day.

I uploaded a STICKY NOTES program today so that I can put my priorities on my desk top. It stays on top of every thing I do. I cannot avoid my list. I LOVE IT!

Let's talk about my challenges. Tonight my husband insisted on our family getting pizza for dinner. I was going to make my healthy version, but decided to just limit myself to one piece and then made myself a salad with no dressing to snack on to meet my vege requirement and fill me up. I am pleased it worked.

This week, I have often thrown things in the trash. For instance, I made normal Fettuccine Alfredo for my family and a healthy version with sprouted noodles for me. That worked out fine. However, I also made my family Garlic-Cheese Bread and the aroma beckoned me. I thought about it constantly for over an hour. So after my family had seconds on it, I told them "Last Call" and then tossed it in the trash and covered it up. No regrets.

If my husband does not take the leftovers to work the next day in his lunch, then I toss the food if it is something that will tempt me. My willpower is strongest in the morning and early afternoon. By late afternoon...I want to eat junk. So I make sure to have my raw almonds and raw veges ready for snacking while I prepare dinner, along with a tall glass of cold water.

As for exercise, I have found my aerobic ability is lacking and building it back up is slow. However, I was shocked to find my anaerobic tolerance is still quite high. I have retained more muscle than I realized. As usual, I would much prefer to work out with weights than do aerobic exercise. Thus, I do my aerobic exercise first and get it over with so I can get to the part of my workout I enjoy!

My next challenge? My hubby and kids are craving home baked goodies like blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies. I feel like a horrible mom for not making them this week. However, I am still craving sugar. And since I am trying to avoid refined sugar, I have avoided making these delights.

As I work step by step towards a healthier lifestyle, a part of this progress is writing out my REASONS/ADVANTAGES of choosing health/life. To be effective it should be on a card small enough to fit in my pocket or purse so that it can be with me all the time. I review it at least twice daily to help motivate me, but I also pull it out anytime I am tempted to choose unhealthy/death.

I currently have 9 reasons listed on my card. I also have more than one card, because I am apt to sit it somewhere eventually and lose it. So I keep one in my pocket, one in my purse, and a back-up in my health diary/notebook. All reasons listed are positive reasons on this card. Such as I will feel or I will do.

I also have my NEGATIVE page in my diary/notebook with all the things I currently hate about my life because of being unhealthy. I did this so I could look at each issue and come up with a myriad of solutions to change it. I don't look at it often, only if I feel it is time to try another solution.

This truly is a trial and error process as I discover what is working and what fails. On the upside, while I do still have failures, I see myself striving forwards to choose life. If I graphed my life since I have started this process, I must say I would be going upwards or forwards towards choosing life and that is encouraging. Speaking of graphs...that is next on my list.

This morning in my devotional time I was reflecting on how many times in the Old Testament God's people were called upon to "Bless" Him.

Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God." 1 Chron 29:20

It occurred to me today most of us only think about God blessing us, not about how we might bless Him. I wondered if my "current" ideas of what defines "bless" might be tainted from our culture.

As I studied the Hebrew "Barak or Baruch" word for bless in the Bible, I was humbled. The root means to bend your knee. To bless the Lord was to bow before him and praise Him. What if I told you that because of my Fibromyalgia that I rarely bow before the Lord anymore? The agonizing pain motivates me to sit or lie down when I pray. At times I kneel, but I so rarely bow before the Lord.

This morning I felt a call to "BLESS" the Lord. I chose to obey, though I knew the discomfort to me would make me try to find an excuse. Sure enough, as I bowed, I felt my body ache, I felt my nose plug up and this horrible pressure build up in the front of my head and face. Yet I stayed there and told the Lord I long to learn how to love Him and bless Him. It was a wonderful time of sweet fellowship with Him. He brought so many people to my heart and mind and before I knew it, I no longer even noticed my own discomfort.

It has been an amazing day of worship. I was belting out such songs as "Ocean" by Ten Shekel Shirt while driving home from grocery shopping. You are blessed you get to read the lyrics and not hear me sing it off-key! Now you have a reason to praise the Lord too! ;)

Lately, I've been thinking about You
And lately, I've been dreaming of You
And lately, I can't get You out of my head
Get You out of my head

chorus
Something about the ocean
Makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens
Makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise
Reminds me of Your faithfulness
Something about the ocean
And I'm lost in love again

I'll sing until I sense a smile
Upon Your great and lovely face
And till I know Your glory's in this place
Your glory's in this place

Today was the first official day of boot camp for me! It was MOSTLY a success. I stayed off the computer, except for my allotted times. I have been eating and exercising at designated times. The kids and I really got much more done on this tight schedule, even though we had a few snags. We overcame through Christ.

Here is a wonderful theme song for me as I go through this boot camp to gain more self-discipline and training in areas the Lord is calling me. It's called Take My Life by Jeremy Camp and the lyrics are below the video! Blessings to you!

Rock bottom! I am to the place of complete frustration in several areas of my life. I know what is right, but I still choose what is wrong. I know what is life, but I still choose death. Why?

"But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched woman that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death and help me to choose life? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Paraphrase of Romans 7 by me)

In some areas, I lack self-discipline. I procrastinate, get lazy, become distracted, lose myself in lesser priorities, lose sight of my objectives, etc. Unlike Gomer Pyle, I have no Sgt. Carter to keep me in line!

Today I prayed about it in utter despair. I felt like an addict at their first AA/NA meeting. Realizing for the first time that I feel helpless within myself to make the changes I know are necessary.

This is embarrassing to admit to myself, let alone you, my friends and readers. When I try to talk about what I know are serious issues in my life, I tend to find people help make excuses for me. They say things like:

• "You have had a lot of babies!"
• "You are so busy taking care of a family and you have a special needs child."
• "You have been very ill, don't be so hard on yourself."
• "I don't know how I would ever do all that you do, don't be so hard on yourself!"
  

I know everybody means well. However, I also know all of those excuses, as I have used them in self-defeating talk. I am certainly not blaming any of you, I am simply saying, "I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ONLY I CAN MAKE THESE CHANGES BY SUBMITTING TO GOD MOMENT BY MOMENT!"

Through the last few weeks I have had to really be honest about my shortcomings with myself. It has been a time of self-discovery through the grace of God. I have prayed for Him to open my eyes and show me why I make wrong choices for my health and in a couple of other areas I deem important too. I have learned much, most of it not pretty. However, with this knowledge, I am at a place to find solutions.

I feel God has led me to start a "BOOT CAMP" of sorts, if you will.

Unlike boot camp, God will be my Drill Sergeant and everything He gives me to do, will have a purpose. I will memorize many Scriptures (again) to help me in combat.

Like boot camp, it will be a time to become self-disciplined in areas I come up short. It will be a time to get my mission and objectives clear and to receive the training necessary. It will be a time to remove some of my distractions in order to get my priorities in order.

I will have a tight schedule, but I understand that with a family, there will be some times when I cannot stick to it. However, when I have to deviate, I must come back to the schedule as soon as possible and carry on.

The most difficult thing will be my computer. I so often check my email, friend's blogs, forums, etc only to end up spending time researching something I read that is NOT truly important to me in the big scheme of things. I get side-tracked so easily on the computer. I am putting a timer on my computer to limit my time on it, to help keep me aware. It will help me to spend my time on it wisely, with purpose.

Call it redeeming my time.

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Eph. 5:15-17

In this time of boot camp, I would appreciate your prayers as God brings me to mind. I will update you as I can on how the process is going as I bachar chayah!

Today I pack my bags (prepare my schedules), as tomorrow...I am off to a new adventure in Christ!