thankful

Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are you, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119: 11-12

I have started working on memorizing Psalm 119... I've only been working on it for about a week. But let me tell you it has been such a blessing! I've always been amazed at how the Psalmist has such a deep love for God's law. I mean, if I try to think of the last time that I really thanked God for His word, or laid awake at night thinking about God's word... nope never happened. Lately I've just been having really awesome times with God. I have really felt His Holy Spirit here with me, opening my eyes as I read His word. Now, when I read Psalm 119 I think that I'm KINDA starting to understand why the Psalmist loved God's law so much. When we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and open our eyes to see His Glory and to see His truth in His word, He is faithful! The LORD reveals who He is, His character, etc through His word, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Thank you LORD, for your word!

Now go visit: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/gratituesday-fruit-in-february and be encouraged by the thankfulness of others!

Time with family...

We had some family from OR come and stay with us this past weekend... ended up having a big family get together at our place. Here is a few photos from our time together. Enjoy :-)
love,
jess

Boost that immune system!

As I'm sure you are all well aware of: it is indeed cold/flu season. And while it may be on the downside of the season its still a good idea to take those extra steps to stay healthy. One fabulous immune booster that I have stumbled upon is black elderberry syrup. Common uses for BES include the treatment of sore throats, and fevers however you can also use it as a preventative immune booster. You can take BES alone or you can put it into a warm tea. The best part is that you are not only getting the immune boosting results from it, but you aren't having to choke it down because it tastes so yummy! The best time to take BES is at the first sign of cold/flu.

More uses for BES;
Immune system boost, coughs, colds, flu, bacterial infections, viral infections, tonsilitis, lower cholesterol, improved vision and heart health. Infusions of the fruit are said to be beneficial for nerve disorders, back pain, and have been used to reduce inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder.

*ahem* I am not a Doctor... so I encourage you to check with a Doctor before taking ANY natural remedies, to make sure that it doesn't conflict with anything you are already taking. Just because something is natural doesn't mean that you can take however much of it that you want or that it can't have interactions with other medications. ALWAYS read the direction on a label before taking any!

That said, I have had great results with BES! Give it a try the next time you feel a cold/flu coming on!

love.,
jess

Need some art?

My good friend Pips just opened up an etsy store online. She is SO amazingly talented!!! So if you need some art to brighten up your walls or space, then PLEASE make sure that you check her out!

Here is here Etsy site;
http://www.etsy.com/shop/saltandpipper

Here is her blog;
http://flyingpips.tumblr.com/

Enjoy!

The LORD, He is God!

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.' Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!'
1 Kings 18:36-40

Try something new...

Well, I did it. I finally started taking cod liver oil. I thought it was going to be awful... I thought for sure that I would have nasty fishy burps after taking the capsules. But ALAS!!!! No nasty burps! No nasty taste in my mouth! You might be wondering why I am taking cod liver oil, well let me tell you...

There is hardly a disease in the books that does not respond well to treatment that includes cod liver oil, and not just infectious diseases but also chronic modern diseases like heart disease and cancer. Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are also very important for the development of the brain and nervous system. "If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," said David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them cod liver oil."
Cod liver oil contains more vitamin A and more vitamin D per unit weight than any other common food. One hundred grams of regular cod liver oil provides 100,000 IU of vitamin A, almost three times more than beef liver, the next richest source; and 10,000 IU vitamin D, almost four times more than lard, the next richest source. Of course, cod liver oil is only consumed in small amounts, but even a tablespoon (about 15 grams) provides well over the recommended daily allowance for both nutrients.
In addition, cod liveroil contains 7 percent each of the elongated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA is the precursor of important prostaglandins, localized tissue hormones that help the body deal with inflammation; and DHA is extremely important for the development and function of the brain and nervous system. So it's no surprise that in numerous studies cod liver oil has proven to be a powerhouse in fighting disease.
Good for What Ails You

Cod liver oil greatly improves heart function to prevent heart disease and to treat it even in advanced stages, after a heart attack and after heart surgery. Cod liver oil alters the linings of the arteries in such a way as to improve healing after damage. This is attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids but vitamin A, D and K all have important roles to play in facilitating mineral absorption, improving muscle function and supporting elasticity of the blood vessels. The inflammation-reducing prostaglandins made from EPA help mediate the inflammatory response in the arteries. In other studies the heart-protective effect was associated with changes in the muscle response to serotonin, increasing the heart's ability to "relax."1-15 In a study with rats, treatment with cod liver oil actually caused artery-blocking atheromas to become smaller and blood vessel diameter to enlarge.55 Weston Price noted that heart attack deaths increased during periods when the vitamin A content of the diet was low. Cod liver oil can provide vitamin A on a continuous basis throughout the year.
Many of the conditions addressed by cod liver oil are considered related under the title Syndrome X. These include obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, adult onset diabetes and stroke. Evidence is accumulating that these diseases of civilization are the result of high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and low levels of omega-3 fatty acids along with deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins. We may be paying a very high price for our rejection of parental wisdom to take our cod liver oil.
In numerous studies, the elongated omega-3 fats found in cod liver oil have been shown to improve brain function, memory, stress response, immune response, allergies, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, including bipolar syndrome and manic-depression.
Cod liver oil is most famous for contributing to bone health, preventing and reversing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.16, 17 Before the discovery of cod liver oil as a source of vitamin D, many children suffered greatly with deformed bones. Osteoporosis responds to vitamin D and to cod liver oil. Sufficient elongated omega-3 oils found in cod liver oil are one of the keys to keeping and rebuilding bone.18, 19 In women, higher levels of vitamin D from cod liver oil improve bone mineral density.20
Two of the symptoms of low levels of vitamin D are bone pain and muscle pain. This may manifest as pain in the legs, muscle weakness and difficulty climbing stairs. Numerous studies have shown improvement in muscle pain, muscle strength and bone pain scores with cod liver oil.40, 41
Cod liver oil is effective in treating arthritis as well. Researchers funded by Great Britain's Arthritis Research Campaign found that the elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil reduce both pain and damage in inflamed joints.56
Pregnant women using cod liver oil have infants with a lower risk for juvenile type 1 diabetes.21 This effect was found only in mothers taking cod liver oil, not in mothers taking multivitamin supplements. Cod liver oil taken by nursing mothers improves the fatty acid profile in breast milk to promote optimal brain development and also increases levels of vitamin A to prevent infections. Interestingly, cod liver oil does not provide increased vitamin D in breast milk.23,24
Cod liver oil given to infants after birth and during the first year had no protective effect against type 1 diabetes but it nevertheless is an important source of nutrients for optimal infant health.22 In more than forty trials, vitamin A has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality of children.25 Cod liver oil was the supplement of choice in many of these trials. Books on feeding infants published in the 1930s and 1940s routinely recommended cod liver oil, starting with 1 teaspoon at the age of three weeks. It was Dr. Spock who threw this wisdom out the window by recommending vaccinations instead of the powerful nutritional support of cod liver oil. Few modern books on infant care mention the importance of the fat-soluble nutrients in this wonderful superfood.
As for treating diabetes in adults, cod liver oil has been used in a number of trials with both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. In both conditions cod liver oil improved glucose response and other markers of the disease.26-31 Vitamin A in cod liver oil helps promote healing and protects the retina, both problem areas in the diabetic patient.
Cod liver oil has lowered blood pressure induced by stress-elevated levels of cortisol.32-35 Cod liver oil given to rats reduced intraocular pressure suggesting a use in prevention and treatment of glaucoma.36 Vitamin D in cod liver oil promotes absorption of calcium and magnesium, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Colitis responds more effectively to the type of omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil than to medication.37-38 Cod liver oil should be the first protocol for this condition as well as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.
Topically applied, cod liver oil contributes to faster wound healing and improvement in skin quality.39 An excellent treatment for diaper rash and other skin conditions is cod liver oil mixed with zinc oxide. And cod liver oil taken orally helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles.
And what about cancer? All the nutrients in cod liver oil help prevent cancer. Vitamin A has been part of every successful alternative cancer therapy so far. In a study in China, use of cod liver oil was found to be protective against childhood leukemia.57 In a study of Norwegian men and women, consumption of cod liver oil was found to protect against lung cancer.58
http://www.westonaprice.org/Cod-Liver-Oil-The-Number-One-Superfood.html

As you read, cod liver oil has MANY benefits! It is really a fabulous superfood! My main reason for starting to take it is to see how it effects my tooth decay. If you read the rest of the article that I linked to above, then you will read about how cod liver oil has been proven to help cure tooth decay- I guess we'll see :-) Anyway, just wanted to encourage you to try cod liver oil. Its really not as bad as you would think and the health benefits are insane (in a good way, of course!).

love.
jess

p.s.
3 posts in one day?! Man, I'm on a roll!

An inspiring story...

If you frequent my blog often, please read the article that the following link is attached to. I think you will find this families story very inspiring and encouraging.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100131/ap_on_re/us_rel_the_pastor_s_cancer_1

love.
jess

Loving God...

"Loving God in its essence is desiring, treasuring, delighting, being satisfied, cherishing, savoring, valuing, prizing, revering, admiring God Himself in and beyond his gifts."

"Love for God is not a deliberated choice, or deed. It is a reflex to seeing the beauty of Christ."

Both quotes by John Piper in a sermon about Romans 8:28

Homemade Plain Yogurt In Your Crock Pot

I just tried this recipe the other day. I got it from http://www.nourishingdays.com/

Plain Yogurt in the crock pot

Turn your crock pot to low and pour in 1/2 gallon of milk.
Heat on low for 2 hours and 30 minutes. (if you want a thicker texture do it for 15 more minutes)
Once 2 hours and 30 minutes have elapsed turn your crock pot off and unplug it. Let the milk cool in the crock with the lid on for 3 hours.
After 3 hours remove 1-2 cups of the warmed milk and place in a bowl. To that add 1/2 cup of yogurt with live active cultures and mix very well.
Pour the yogurt-milk mixture back into the milk and whisk thoroughly.
Place the cover back on the crock and wrap the entire crock pot in a thick bath towel or two.
Let it culture overnight, 8-12 hours.
In the morning stir yogurt (if desired) and store in glass quart jars or a container of your choice.
For optimum texture, refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using.

February Menu Plan

Hey all :-) I just thought I'd share my menu plan for the first half of Feb. with you. If you haven't started planning your meals or at least your dinners- I highly recommend it! You will save money at the grocer AND you have more of a likely chance that you will eat healthy if you've already planned it out. Anyway, if you see anything on my menu plan that sounds good to you, then leave a comment and I will post the recipe :-)

2/1 Salmon w/ butter sauce, salad, broccoli & green beans
2/2 zucchini parmesan sandwich with raw veggies on the side
2/3 -leftovers-
2/4- leftovers-
2/5 chicken tacos w/ homemade whole wheat tortillas, salad, broccoli, red peppers, avocados
2/6 chicken, rice & gravy, salad, asparagus and broccoli
2/7 Salmon w/ butter sauce, salad, spinach and green beans
2/8 steak, salad, red potatoes/sweet potatoes, green beans and zucchini
2/9 -leftovers-
2/10 -leftovers-
2/11 Asparagus, corn, broccoli with garlic chicken pasta
2/12 stuffed bell peppers and salad
2/14 taco soup and salad