Fasting for Body and Spirit

When I was younger, I used to work in a bank in the St. Louis area. I once had a conversation with another teller about fasting, probably after mentioning Fast Sunday. It went like this:

Her: That's bad for you.

Me: No, that's good for you.

Her: No, it's bad.

Me: No, it's good.

[I'm not sure how long this phase went on.]

Her: Your body needs vitamins.

Me: Your body stores vitamins.

[I might have spoken out of turn here.]

Me: It talks about fasting in the Bible.

Her: That means eating a small breakfast and lunch and regular supper and no snacks.

I think at this point I didn't know what to say. I wondered where she came up with this definition. Is that in the Bible, I wondered. Maybe I should study more before I have to eat my words. I suppose that's what her church taught. I decided I needed some education about the subject. So that night I went to the library and checked out some books on fasting.

One book was quite informative. It told how people anciently would fast as a way of healing themselves of various illnesses and diseases. When the body is not occupied with digesting food, it can rest and recuperate. Toxins are released. Some of these fasts were for an extended period of time, but I'm only concerned in doing a 24 hour fast.

I also wanted to read any scriptures I could find on the subject. In Matthew chapter 15, we read where Jesus didn't want to send the multitudes away fasting, lest they should faint in the way. I seriously think I could walk home if I was allowed a light breakfast and lunch and regular dinner.

In Matthew chapter 17, there's an interesting story. The disciples tried to cure a child and failed. Jesus came and cast out the devil. He spoke to the disciples about faith and then said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." So, combining prayer and fasting gives a certain spiritual power. Something that couldn't be accomplished by prayer alone, could be accomplished by adding fasting to the formula. If a person were trying hard to overcome something, say dishonesty, fasting might give him the extra help he needs.

I like these lines of a poem by Carol Lynn Pearson. "...good rest for my body, good exercise for my soul."

Honey for your Brain

Just read this yesterday on benefits-of-honey.com : Honey is the only food that contains 'pinocembrin', an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning. I've already been eating local honey for my allergies. I thought they were better this year. But that could have been from losing the willow tree that was right next to the house. Not sure.

My daughter informed me that my nutrition based blogs are boring. So says the seventeen year old who has not yet noticed the mental decline of age. I also, being one who does a little genealogy, and seen the word senility on many an ancestor's death certificate, appreciate all the help I can get!

Dr. Mark Hyman on Dementia

Dr. Mark Hyman has written an article about reversing dementia. I first saw this after finding out the second person in my immediate family had this diagnosis. What a sense of gratitude/elation/joy filled me at thinking this diagnosis didn't have to be a life or death sentence. He says:

"Start by looking hard for correctable causes of memory loss. They include:

• Pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome
• Low thyroid function
• Depression
• Deficiencies in B vitamins, especially vitamin B12
• Omega-3 fat deficiencies
• Mercury or other heavy metal toxicity
• Vitamin D deficiency
• High cholesterol
• Unique genes that predispose you to nutritional or detoxification problems"

Read the article. I've just given the basics. Some of these things are very easy, like taking a pill. Others may take more work and more time, but what a blessing to be able to reverse this disease. I would start with taking sublingual B12, vitamin D, and fish oil. A lot of things can be improved with a healthy diet and exercise. That reminds me-I need to put B12 on my grocery list!

Spitz's Lemon Bath

Spitz, my gray and white cat, is looking a little mangy. By that I mean she has a few little spots of bare on her back. I looked up mange and found it's caused by a mite. Sweetie, the black cat, had something like this a year or so ago. I made and treated her with a lemon bath. I am not a fan of using poisons, and also not a fan of spending a lot of money. She started looking better right away.

Lemon bath: slice lemon with peel still on. Boil water, and remove from heat. Add lemon slices and steep overnight. Sponge onto pet's coat.

You don't really expect a cat to enjoy a bath. I don't know that I'd say Sweetie enjoyed it, but she seemed okay with it. I sat on the patio and placed her on my lap. I took an old sock on my hand and dipped it in the lemon water and petted her with it. I kept this up until she was quite soaked, as were my jeans, but that's okay. You might think a swim suit would be smart, but not if your cat has claws! But that was Sweetie. Now Spitz needs it and I don't know how this will go...

Update: All went well. She meowed a lot and tried to get away. I got my shirt drenched by trying to hug her to keep her on my lap. She's a sweet cat who didn't bite or scratch. I think she's very happy to have it over with! And there is now fur growing back in those bare places. :) [I never made a smiley face with italics before. Looks a little sauced.]

Family Reunion

The family reunion was in our town this year. Usually it's held in Joe's Valley in Utah. But this year, right here on our little farm. Well, part of the reunion.

Mom-in-law went all out, as she usually does. She comes from a different generation where their work ethic is something else. She's at least twenty years older than me, but I don't manage to do half of what she does. For the family reunion, we painted her kitchen, living room, re-landscaped her front yard and also did some work in the backyard. Everything in the house was taken down from it's spot and cleaned. She even came over and cleaned my garage. Granted a lot of the things in there were theirs, but I still have a feeling I should be ashamed of myself.

She planned three meals for around forty people, but one of the meals fell through. She was disappointed but I was relieved, my back and feet were killing me. Her meals are not a little light fare, but something of a smorgasbord.

Some of the family from out west are talking about coming out here next year. I know it's a lot of work, but it was really nice getting to know them a little. I personally would change menus to make it easier. That's what I've been saying to my sisters for years. If we had a more simple meal, we would have more time for fun. But I know Mom. And she'll want a big to-do. And that's just fine. There's always ibuprofen.

The weeping willow tree

It took me awhile to blog this time. They changed some things and I had a hard time finding my way back here. Some of us who aren't so computer saavy are like that. Plus I've been busy freezing broccoli from my garden, cleaning house for a family party, doing church secretary stuff, and the like.

Today, as soon as I finished with my broccoli, I went to join Don and Bob outside. They were cutting down the last of the weeping willow tree that was next to the house.

I always have mixed feelings about changes. In some ways, I didn't like the tree. I always had to trim the long hanging branches so Bob could mow underneath without getting caught. It left lots of broken branches and dead wood to be cleaned up. Storm damage made it look a little unattractive during months when there were no leaves.

But there was a time when the tree was full of leaves. We sat under it the summer Alden and Afton were here. And lots of other times. The cats would sit on a branch and look in the kitchen at me. And I used to enjoy the view when I had my breakfast. I even took some pictures hoping my mom would find it worthy to paint.

I took some pictures today, too. But I think I'd prefer to show it the way it was. Mom doesn't do much painting anymore. Maybe I'll try it.

Update: I did try painting it. Conclusion: Some of us are better with a camera.

Grandpa

Sixteen years ago, today, my dad passed. I like to say passed, because I think it serves as a better description. Our soul or spirit passes into another phase of life. The body dies, the spirit lives on forever. To be later resurrected like Jesus was. In some ways, we follow his example without even trying.

A funny thing happened, though, sixteen years ago. We went to the funeral with our one year old daughter. All the people were sitting in folding chairs in the center of a large room. In the front was the casket. The sides of the room had couches and chairs and tables and lamps. I sat in the front row with immediate family, and Don sat back a few rows with Kelly. Sometime during the service, she pointed to one of the couches and waved.

I'm not sure who Kelly saw that day. I watched her for awhile afterward, to make sure she didn't go around waving at inanimate objects. She didn't. I like to think she was waving to grandpa. I know he loved her alot, and would have been there if he could.

Move It or Lose It

I'm always interested in new information about dementia. Two family members have symptoms. One is 92 years old, so that's not so surprising. The other is in her fifties, and that was quite a shocker.
The things I have been reading on the subject are very hopeful. I was looking at a magazine article about having a sharper brain. The number one thing you can do is exercise.
From August 2006 Reader's Digest:
Arthur Kramer (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and his colleagues have proved two critical findings: Fit people have sharper brains, and people who are out of shape, but then get into shape, sharpen up their brains.
It was suggested by Mark McDaniel (Washington University in St. Louis) to use a combination of aerobics and weight training. Studies show the best outcomes for those engaged in both types of exercise.

Dancing in the Streets

I've never forgottern how the Palestinians danced in the streets and gave out candy after the 9/11 attacks. I told myself I would do the same when they got Bin Laden. Well, I got the news last night. But it was dark out and raining. And no one is ever out there on our lonely country road anyway.
Chris Matthews said it's a day for going to church rather than going to a bar. I agree. I don't really feel like chanting "U - S - A", but rather feel like thanking the Lord for our world being just a little safer.

Cemetery records

I spent quite a lot of time today searching cemetery lists of Ripley County, Missouri. I thought my great grandfather, Emerson Laney, might have died there. His daughter was supposedly born there and not long after, he died. I realize it was a long shot. There were so many cemeteries for one county. I was tired and my back was aching from looking so long. The woman who did this research has photos of all the tombstones and will send you one if requested. For every single name I looked at, she went traipsing through sometimes very overgrown, neglected cemeteries. What wonderful people, who do all this work so the rest of us can look for our ancestors. The spirit of Elijah is so strong in some people.

Happy 1 Month Birthday

Here's our babies at one month old. They're looking kind of scraggly. But they'll get more feathers in and be looking quite pretty in time. We haven't had baby chicks in about three years, so the grown ups are getting pretty up there in age. We are getting a decent amount of eggs from the older ones still. We give them lots of grass and greens to supplement their layer feed. It makes the egg yolks almost orange. The grocery store eggs we bought in the winter looked anemic compared to these.

Family Search

I read an article not long ago in Mormon Times. It was about Family Search on lds.org. It sounded so easy to get started. So I went there and I am having so much fun. I don't know if others consider the research fun, but it's not that hard. Granted, there are some things I just can't find. But I just go on to the next name. I'll go back to the hard ones when I've learned a little more. I've found family on census records which I hadn't found before. In some cases, I was able to make a copy of the actual census page. Luckily, my Great Aunt Vera wrote lots of information down which I use as a starting point. She typed her pages using carbon paper. She wrote on one page, "Don't throw this away". Don't worry, Aunt Vera, you work is useful and appreciated.

My Latest Blonde Moment

I was reading an older copy of the Church News this morning. There was an article about help the church gave to Haiti after the quake. It said we've sent the equivalent of more than 60 truckloads of relief supplies - including air shipments. And I thought, for just a moment mind you, "We sent them air?!"

Seedlings

I used egg cartons to start my seedlings this year. I had an overabundance of cartons since our chickens haven't been laying any eggs over the winter. It seems to be working well. They're very handy to water in the kitchen windowsills, and are getting plenty of sunlight. It's quite fun to check each morning to see any new sprouts. Now I wish I had done more. The only thing that hasn't come up yet is the nasturtiums. The seed might have been too old. I'll give it some more time, and then get some new seed. They're supposed to help deter some of the insects that invade the vegetable garden. My biggest problem last summer was the cabbageworms on the broccoli. The book said to put paper collars around each plant. I used plastic soda bottles, cut off the top and bottom and put around each plant. The worms found the plants anyway. They were so bad, I pulled the broccoli up early because I was so annoyed with trying to get off all those little beasts. Better Homes Gardens says to plant tansy to deter cabbageworms. I looked up tansy and its an herb. I'll try to find seed and plant near the broccoli.

Pray for the Mormons

I was watching this thing on the religious channel. There was this man talking about the Mormons. The unfortunate Mormons who are so misguided. Pray for your Mormon friends, he said. Well, I don't have a problem with anyone praying for me. In fact, I kind of like it. He was talking to a young couple, asking them questions and obviously trying to trip them up. They sounded like they knew what they were talking about. I would have liked to hear the Bible reference on at least one of the statements he made. In a world where there is so much strife and sadness, earthquakes and tsunamis, AIDS and children going to bed hungry, I'm surprised he's worrying so much about the Mormons. But, if you want to pray for me and my friends, then I thank you. And don't forget to pray for all those people hurt by the earthquakes and tsunamis, and AIDS, and hunger. And maybe for that guy on the religious channel.

Getting Started

I once made the mistake of telling Kelly I wanted a blog. So she started it for me and even wrote the first entry. I told her it wasn't nice to write something pretending to be someone else. And now she's sitting behind me (sick and home from school) forcing me to get on and write. So....I'm not a great writer. Not even much of a thinker. But I'll try to blog when I feel I have something important or interesting to say.

The story of how I got my blog. . . .

Okay well for the past few months I have been deliberating if I wanted a blog or not. My daughter, nieces, and friends have them. So I've been telling my daughter I want one and she got sick of me changing my mind, so she just made it. We're sitting in the family room watching a movie and the next thing I know shes telling me my username and password. So thats the story. Nothing to publish in a book but good enough for my first blog post.

Some things about me are I love the color yellow, I think my daughter's reading choices are weird (honesty), I love my family and church, and living on a farm is not in my list of things to do.

My daughter completely made everything, title, URL, settings, template, everything. So things will probably be changing. But she did get a lot of things right. She's being like every other teenager girl on the planet and was watching the TWILIGHT premiere on the TV from L.A. So every now and then we would hear her scream of yell OH MY GOSH!! or HOLY CRAP!! or MOM!!!!! So that was pretty funny. She won't let us forget that tomorrow is the release. Plus she insists on reading her favorite passages to us. Favorite passages equals every book from beginning to end.

My daughter will kill me if I don't mention this, www.kellyandpj.blogspot.com that's the blog she shares with her bet friend Pj.

Parenthood is calling, otherwise known as making sure my daughter hasn't started a fire, or caused a catastrophe. Which knowing he she might have in her excitment from Twilight, the vampire romance novel series. woo hoo!!!