Tip Of The Day

1. Spritzing a blend of teatree oil and citronella oil on carpet, bedding, etc gets rid of dustmites and keeps them at bay.

2. Baking soda is a great natural carpet cleaner and freshener. Sprinkle Baking soda on carpet and leave for a couple minutes before vacuuming. ( I mix baking soda with fresh lavender for a nice floral fragrance. If you don't like lavender, you can substitute. I also like lemon sage.)

Relieving and Preventing Allergies- Part One

The best way to relieving and preventing allergies is to build a strong immune system and protect it through a healthy and balanced diet. Avoiding processed foods will further protect your immune system. Because our bodies don't recognize a majority of the ingredients in processed foods, our body doesn't know what to do with them so they get stored. These stored substances eventually turn into toxins in our body that weaken our immune system and breaks down its defenses, thereby effecting your spleen, liver, kidneys and intestinal track. By maintaining a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables provides our bodies with the essential vitamins and minerals necessary to keeping our immune system strong. Here is a list of essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need and what foods contain them.

Vitamin A: derived from animal products (dairy products, butter and fish oil) and vegetable products (orange colored fruits and vegetables: carrots, squash, asparagus, melon, peaches and apricots. red and deep green vegetables: tomato, beets, spinach, kale, radishes, lettuce and parsley.

Vitamin C: guava, kiwi, mango, cherries, rosehips, pineapple, citrus fruit, melon, strawberries, berries, peppers, tomatoes and leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower as well as other garden fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin E: wheat germ oil, soy oil, cereal grains or wholewheat greains, olive oil (extra virgin, uncooked), green leafy vegetables and nuts. Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flaxseeds.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9): beans, dried fruits, cabbage, spinach, broccoli and other green vegetables, almonds, peanuts and yeast.

Iron: red and white meats, beans nuts, raisins, lentils, sunflower seeds and some green vegetables such as artichokes, bitter greens, watercress and spinach.

Magnesium: nuts (especially almonds), soy, oatmeal, figs and dates

Manganese: whole grain cereals, nuts, rice and wheat, spinach, pineapple, common tea, cloves and ginger

Zinc: shell fish, meat, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, oats, beans and nuts


Some Essential foods that increase your immune systems ability to fight off ailments include:

Olive Oil contains a number of poli-unsaturated fats (oleic and linoleic acides) and stimutates the body's defense mechanism. Olive Oil is important for the heart and arteries.

Garlic improves the potency of the T lymphocytes. Eating garlic helps the body to increase the number of its natural protective cells.

Bacteria found in yogurt not only helps support our immune system, but also strengthens the intestinal lining.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables have a high content of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients  and play a crucial role as an antioxident, as well as revitalizing the immune system.

Seasonal Fruits, onions, squash, carrots, honey, parsley, avocado, tomato and fish help to protect the body against allergies.


NOTE: I like to keep this list handy to help me when I am preparing my weekly meal plan. I have one copy taped to the inside of my kitchen cupboard as a quick reference. I keep another copy in my desk for when I'm writing my weekly meal plan and grocery list. Please feel free to print this off for your personal use.

Recall on Children's Medicine

This week in the news it was reported that several children's medicines have been recalled. I have included a link below for the recent report and encourage parents to take a look.


Seasonal Allergies have already begun to affect people and this years pollen count is at an all time high. As a parent, I am concerned about how to protect my children from seasonal allergies, as well as indoor allergies without them having to take a lot of medicine or resort to using inhalers. Please stay tuned for posts on "Natural Solutions for Allergies" where I will give some solutions for both parents and children.


http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=503&z=43

Sanctuary

What comes to mind when you hear the word "sanctuary"? What compels you to seek sanctuary? For me, it means finding a quiet place. A place I can feel most like myself. A place I feel closest to God and can feel safe and secure. Sometimes it is difficult for me to hear God's voice. I "tune him out", kind of like when you're in the middle of something and your son or daughter (maybe even your spouse) wants some of your time. Life can tend to pull me in different directions. I get sucked in and try swimming it alone. Sometimes I have sought sanctuary in the wrong ways (materialism, work, hobbies, etc). I'm sure you can relate. These things in and of themselves are not wrong but when they consume us or when we put them before God it can lead us down the wrong path.




I've seen (many times after the fact) how God has used situations in my life, whatever the struggle or challenge, to help me see that I need Him. He continues to work on me being patient, trusting Him and being humble. When I finally come to Him, it is only then I have felt safety and comfort.


Psalm 27:5-8 says:
He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.


Hear me as I pray, O Lord, Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming".




No matter why you seek sanctuary, God has given you that desire. He wants you to seek sanctuary with Him, so much so that He is always there to meet you. Coming into God's sanctuary means meeting Him, talking with Him and allowing Him to pour out His love for you.




Discussion Questions: I would love to hear your thoughts...


1. Does my heart hear God asking me to talk with Him? How am I responding?
2. How has God been leading me to enter His sanctuary?

My Secret Garden

In November my family moved into a townhouse. Having lived many years in an apartment, this is the first time we have had our own yard. I have always wanted one and have dreamed of having my own little garden. Now that I am blessed with the opportunity I have no idea where to even begin. I don't even own a shovel. Here begins my wonderful journey of learning how to garden. You know, it's funny. My mother is a wonderful gardener. At nearly 78, she still enjoys working in her garden. My grandfather was the same. I have vivid memories growing up of the beautiful gardens they created. I daydreamed of garden fairies and gnomes. I longed for the comforting song of the lark and the thrill of catching a firefly. Is it any wonder then that one of my favorite stories is "The Secret Garden"? Yet, at least for now, I have not developed a green thumb. As I look at my "tiny bit of earth", I see beyond the weeds and overgrowth and dream of my own secret garden just waiting to be discovered.