Worms for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

I love the smell of fresh cooked bacon, especially cooked to a crisp. I would cook it until it was almost burned. I love the way it would break apart between my teeth like a potato chip. I can almost taste it now… I can remember the taste of "extra pepperoni" on my pizza, or the salted Canadian Bacon on my morning biscuit. It has been about 7 years since I have last tasted these things, and I will never experience those exact tastes again. Although my taste buds may be sad, my body is gleaming with happiness…

I wanted to clear up any confusion as to why our family does not eat pork. It isn't because we believe that we are obligated to live by the law of Moses, although, I do believe that God gave those laws for a reason. He didn't give the law to not eat unclean meat just because He had nothing else to do, or because He needed another law to give His people for them to fall short of. He already knew that they (we) wouldn't pass the test. He gave them the law for their own protection. God did not create pigs for human consumption. He created pigs to help keep the earth clean. Jesus came and fulfilled a "new covenant." He came to take on our sins so that we could become clean, not to make pigs clean. Their purpose has not changed, but our way to salvation has.

Upon reading Leviticus 11, my curiosity was penetrated. I wanted to know WHY God would tell Moses such a thing, so I began to do a little research. What I learned in this research was astonishing… I learned that eating pork can be extremely hazardous to your health. Did you know that pigs are known to carry up to 200 diseases and 18 different parasites and worms, including the deadly worm called "Trichinella Spiralis," also known as the "pork worm?" It is a parasite specific to pork and rodents. It forms cysts in the muscles of the pig, and when the pig is then eaten by people, it causes stomach and intestinal diseases. When pork is cooked at high temperatures, the parasites die; however, this parasite does not. According to the CDC, this parasite requires much higher cooking temperatures, and has still been known to survive. It is estimated that 1 out of 6 people are infected with the pork worm which causes diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms as the worms multiply in the digestive tract. The pig is also the carrier of the Taenia Solium Worm, or Tapeworm. This tapeworm takes up residence in the intestine and can sometimes pass through to affect many other organs. Tapeworms can grow to be 20' long, and are found in human intestines, in much larger numbers, in areas where pigs are eaten.

Pigs lungs contain Influenza (flu). This is where the Swine Flu comes from. Pigs harbor this flu in their lungs during the summer months. Then when the pigs are slaughtered and the lungs are turned into sausage, people consume it, and are now infected with the Swine Flu. That is why the Swine Flu is more popular in the Fall and Winter. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital indicates that if you eat pork, you increase your chances of getting Swine Flu by 20%. Pigs are also known to suffer from arthritis more than any other animal, and studies have shown that arthritis could be a virus or parasite transmitted to humans during pig consumption. This parasite, or virus, then takes up residence in the person's muscles or joints causing deterioration which can lead to extreme pain and sometimes disability.

In Genesis 7, God told Noah to take with him "seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and it's mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and it's mate." This was before the Law of Moses, and Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean animals. God knew that the unclean animals would not be a reliable food source, and that their duty would be to clean up the mess made by the other animals and people, so there was not a need for as many of them as the clean animals that were to be used for food.

Mark 5 tells the story of Jesus and a demon-possessed man. Jesus commanded the demons out of the man and into the pigs that were grazing nearby. The pigs then ran down a steep bank into a lake and drowned. Jesus knew that the pigs were not a reliable food source, and this is the only recorded animal that Jesus ever killed.

God tells Peter, in Acts 9, to "kill and eat." Peter replied, "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." God replied, "Do not call anything impure that God has made." I have heard references to this verse stating that God is now saying that everything is clean to eat; however, God is not referring to meat at all. The story goes on to say that God has shown Peter that he should not call any man impure or unclean, because at that time, it was against their law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or to visit him.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive," 1 Corinthians 23. It would be crazy for us to sit down to a bowl of gasoline and ask God to "bless this food to our body's nourishment." Ok, maybe we wouldn't really ask God to bless our gasoline for food, yet, in a way, this is what we all tend to do, at some time or another. We pray for God to bless the food that we eat and to make it pure and nourishing. How can we expect God to disregard the truth, in order for us to indulge in our selfish appetites? I don't believe that eating or not eating any kind of food, including pork, has anything to do with our salvation. I believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. I believe that you can eat pork and still go to heaven; however, I also believe that you could get there a little faster if you do…

Think about it...

Did you know that statistics show that 20% of the population is now denying vaccinations? The government is in a panic with an overstock of vaccines that the public is simply refusing to take. More and more people are on the rise to investigate and question vaccines and the long-term implications of them. Babies have been pushed to be immunized 4 times during the flu season, and clinical studies have shown that children under the age of 2 have no protection from the flu shot. Also, the flu shot has only been proven to be 33% effective in children over 2, and a 30-yr study has shown that the flu shot does not prevent hospitalization or death in adults.

Why do vaccines contain Mercury? The reason is because vaccines can be contaminated from the production process, and the Mercury acts as an inhibitor for any bacteria that the vaccine may come in contact with. Which makes one ask the question, "If the Mercury kills whatever it comes in contact with, then how does it not kill the Proteins that are supposedly there to immunize you?" Mercury has been shown to cause brain degeneration and cancer for up to 20-yrs later. Many experts believe that the Mercury in vaccines have caused an explosion of Asthma, Neurological Disorders and Type 1 Diabetes. Mercury has been shown to cause Smoldering Delayed Brain Deterioration, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's Disease and inflammation of the brain. In the Gulf War, there was a 200% increase in Lou Gehrig's Disease when our soldiers were getting vaccinated for Anthrax; however, Mercury is not the only poison in vaccines. Another ingredient is a product called Squalene. In research, Squalene has been proven to be linked to Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It has also been linked to be the cause of the Gulf War Syndrome. There has literally been an Autoimmune Disease explosion in the US and England, who get these vaccines on a regular basis. Dr. Rima Laibow, Graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Medical Director of the Natural Solutions Foundation, stated that the amount of Squalene in the Swine Flu vaccine is 1,000,000X that of the vaccine from the Gulf War. After receiving this vaccine, consequences could consist of: swollen or immobile joints, plummeting energy levels, headaches, rashes, fevers, weakness, gastrointestinal problems, memory loss and Dementia. Statistics show that if you give pregnant women the flu shot, you increase Autism or Schizophrenia in babies.

In 1976, there was another outbreak of the Swine Flu which lead people to get the vaccine; however, President Ford ordered the vaccine to be stopped when there became an outbreak of the Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS was reported as an adverse side effect from the vaccine, paralyzing 500 people and killing 300. That's not something that any of us were made aware of when the latest swine flu vaccine became available.

In 1991, Dr Maurice Hilleman, a leading expert on immunizations, wrote a memo to Merck, the leading drug manufacturer, and stated that he knew that children were receiving dangerous levels of Mercury in their vaccines. He told Merck that they needed to eliminate the Mercury from vaccines, because people were raising a stink about it and beginning to refuse to buy the vaccines. Dr. Hilleman explained that they needed to do this in order to protect their "market share." As you can see, Dr. Hilleman was not concerned for the children receiving the poison, he was focused on the fact that Merck Industries would be losing money if they didn't make Mercury-free vaccines. He went on to say that a child, from birth to 6-months old, on a normal routine vaccination schedule of 3 DPT, 2 HIB and 3 Hepatitis B shots, would be receiving 87X the amount of Mercury a body can handle. Mercury was eventually removed from vaccines in 2000; however, they are now putting it back in.

It is believed that the Salk vaccine was responsible for stopping the Polio epidemics in the 40's and 50's. If that is true, then why did the epidemics also simultaneously end in Europe, where the vaccine was not so extensively used? Dr. Jonas Salk, who pioneered the first vaccine, pointed out that the Polio vaccine is now causing most of the Polio cases that appear. There is just simply not enough scientific evidence showing that mass vaccinations can be credited with eliminating any disease. It is true that some diseases have diminished or disappeared since vaccines were first introduced; however, no one really knows why. If immunizations are responsible for the disappearance of these diseases in the US, then why did they simultaneously disappear in Europe, where mass immunizations did not take place?

My goal here is not to tell you to get the flu shot or any other vaccination, or to not get them. I simply want to give you information to help you make an informed decision for you and your family. Think about it...

References:
Dr. Ted Broer: Author, Nutritionist, BioChemist, Psychologist
Dr. Russell Blaylock: www.russellblaylockmd.com
Dr. Rima Laibow: Natural Solutions Foundation
Dr. Robert Mendelsohn: "How to Raise A Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor"
http://www.whale.to/vaccine/hilleman_h.html

How Much Milk Can You Drink?

Did you know that in order to get your sufficient amount of vitamin D3 you would have to consume 50 glasses of milk in one day? Vitamin D3 is a big key in the well-being of you and your family. Normally, vitamin D3 comes from the sun. When the sun hits your skin, your body starts to produce antimicrobial peptides. These peptides greatly improve your immune function. If you have a shortage of peptides in your body, you increase your chances for bacterial and viral infections such as the cold and flu. That is why the winter is considered the "cold and flu season." Research also shows that a deficiency in vitamin D3 can also aid in a number of autoimmune diseases, as well as, osteoporosis, depression, tuberculosis and more. Further studies have shown that vitamin D3 is also incredibly protective against H1N1.

Scientists say that we should, on a regular basis, get at least 20 minutes of sunshine everyday on as much skin as we can expose, without sunscreen, because the sunscreen blocks out the ultraviolet rays that produce these peptides. Dermatologists and health professionals have consistently suggested sunscreen anytime we go out into the sunshine due to the increased risk of skin cancer; however, skin cancer makes up only 3% of cancer patients. Vitamin D3 has been shown to help patients suffering from other cancers such as lymphoma, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. I am not suggesting that you go to the beach and stay out all day without any sunscreen at all, but to continue to play it safe and be sure not to burn your skin.

Studies say that our bodies need at least 5000 mg of vitamin D3 per day. If we lived near the equator, getting a sufficient amount daily would not be so hard to do, but because we don't, it may be necessary to supplement our daily vitamin routine with a dose of vitamin D3. Most daily vitamins do contain vitamin D3, but not in near the amount of 5000 mg per day.

Our household has been taking vitamin D3 daily since November, and we believe that we can tell a big difference in a number of areas. Brandon has not gotten his nasty, lingering cough that he has gotten every winter since I have known him, the boys have stayed well throughout the entire winter season, and I have been able to tell a big difference in my emotions and thoughts. I think that I may have been suffering from a small amount of depression, and I didn't even realize it, until I no longer had it.

Smaller doses can be found in your local pharmacy, while larger doses (5000 mg and above) can be found in your local health/nutritian store. It can be taken in capsule or liquid form, and one is just as effective as the other.

Although the flurries that we have seen on-and-off today don't indicate it, the winter season is nearing an end. Soon, we will be able to get outside again and enjoy the warm sunshine on our face. How about this year, we allow the warm sunshine hit some other places on our bodies as well. You can rest assured that it is not only helping the outside of your body look good, by getting a nice, pretty tan, but it is also helping your inside look good too.


*This blog is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease.

De-cide to De-clutter...

"You are not your stuff, and if your stuff is not helping you create the life, mood and harmony that you want, then what's it doing in your life?" -Peter Walsh

Spring time is almost here, and we have decided to get a jump-start on our "Spring Cleaning." We were encouraged after our recent visit at a friend's house who, upon moving to a smaller home, has pretty much gotten rid of everything and started over. It was so nice to walk into their new home and to not feel overwhelmed with "stuff", which is the feeling that I get everyday in our home. As I began to walk around the house, I started to pray that God would help me and give me wisdom on what I really need and don't need, and I can't begin to tell you how much He has opened my eyes. In my recent research of how clutter effects us, these are some things that I have learned:

1. The clutter in your home can make you feel tired all the time... For instance, if you have clutter on your bed, then how can you get a good night's sleep? Or you may have clutter in your family room that is getting in the way of your quality family time. The kitchen is a good place for clutter to pile up. It tends to be our "catch all" place for mail, bills, magazines, backpacks or unwashed dishes. Maybe it's a case where everything that should be inside the cabinets are sitting on the top of the cabinets. Clearing that space allows you to be more organized during mealtime, and will increase your space. Your desire for a larger kitchen may just come in de-cluttering the kitchen that you already have. Once you de-clutter, you may find that you actually have the energy to go on that walk after all. Especially now that you're getting a good night's rest and can actually find your walking shoes.
2. Clutter doesn't allow you to live in the present or travel to the future... When all the space that you have is filled with clutter, it doesn't allow anything new to come into your life. Your clutter can constantly be a reminder of the past, either good or bad. Clearing out your old clutter allows you to take control of your past and move forward to your future. Keeping special memories does not always require for you to keep all the things pertaining to that memory. You can get rid of the stuff without getting rid of the memory. Take pictures of your stuff, and put them in a picture album. That way, you can see your memories and even share them with others without having to clutter up a room (or home) with all those things from the past.
   
3. Clearing clutter can be an emotional release... The environment that you live in can reflect your inner environment. If there is chaos in your life, often there is chaos in your living space too. A cluttered home can reflect confusion and overwhelming feelings not only in yourself but also in the people around you.
4. A cluttered area can lead to an unsanitary living space and severely affect physical health as well as mental health... Staring at mounds of dirty dishes, clothes or piles of paperwork visually stimulates the brain to have negative feelings; just as looking at a beautiful painting or image of the ocean can fill someone with a sense of freedom or happiness. De-cluttering your home helps eliminate germs, dust, dirt and mold that could be contributing to the health of you and your family. Dust and dust-mites can contribute to respiratory problems such as increased allergies and asthma. It can even contribute to the common cold and flu. Studies show that holding on to the past can also contribute to deeper health issues including depression and even heart disease. So when you clean your home, you're actually cleaning your body as well.
5. Less clutter can actually save energy... Did you know that your heating and cooling system has to heat and cool all the things in your home as well as you. The theory is that the less you have in your home, the less your home has to work to keep you comfortable; therefore, saving on your energy bills each month, which is good for both you and the environment.
6. The less you have, the less you have to clean... Everyone wants to save time and money cleaning our homes. To save time, we hire a cleaning company which costs money. To save money we fire the cleaning company and do it ourselves, which takes time. Having less stuff could actually free up both time and money for us to enjoy other things that we may not have had the time or money to enjoy before.
7. Helps us take inventory of what we have... Just last week, I mentioned to my husband that I would like a pressure cooker. This week, we have spent a lot of time clearing out our home. In the kitchen, pushed way back under the cabinets, I found a pressure cooker that I didn't even know we had. We were planning on purchasing a pressure cooker until I found that we already owned one. That saved us money! If you are constantly having to purchase something over-and-over while thinking that you've already purchased it, you may not be losing your mind after-all. It may just mean that you need to clear out some of the other things that you are not using and get organized.
8. Puts money in your pocket... Some of the things that you would like to get rid of may be of great interest to other people. There are some great outlets of getting rid of your stuff, and sometimes you can make a little extra money at the same time. You could make a charitable, tax-deductible donation to many organizations around town. Some of those organizations will actually come to your home and pick it up for you. Some other great places are: craigslist.org, ebay.com, or having a yard sale. You may also find that you really like the new space that you have created by clearing out. Because of this, you may not want to buy more stuff to add to it. That way, you're not spending more money on more stuff; therefore, keeping more cash in your pocket, and that always makes us feel better.
   

I deeply encourage you this year to take control of your life and home by taking that extra step that you have been wanting to take for so long. De-cide to De-clutter! You could even start a De-cluttering Party, and invite some friends to join in. Sometimes it's good to have an outside opinion if we are on the fence about a particular item. It also holds us accountable. After you're done with your home, go to the next and so on... After a while, you and your friends will feel the freedom of a de-cluttered, happier, healthier lifestyle.

Sleeping Like A Baby...

The best advise that I received after becoming a mom for the first time was this: "You didn't go to live with your baby, your baby came to live with you." -Dr. Denmark

Recently, I had the fabulous opportunity to help another friend get her newborn baby to sleep all night using Dr. Denmark's incredible, infamous routine. Dr. Denmark is a local, retired Pediatrician that is going to be turning 112 on February 1st, and is the 57th oldest person in the world according to the Guinness book of world records. From referral, my friend came to me to seek out any help that I could offer to get her baby to sleep. I was honored, and we immediately began the baby on a new day and night routine. This "schedule" involves a feeding and sleeping pattern that also helps the baby feel secure and happy, because he learns what to expect throughout the day. We are all creatures of habit, and I believe that it is our responsibility as parents to show our children the right way to live each day, and I also believe that this starts immediately at birth. The first day, the baby accepted the schedule well, and actually slept a little that night. The second night was horrible! It turns out that the baby was colic; however, the mom told me that her pediatrician would not diagnose him as colic because "there is no cure." There is a cure! You see, the mom had been feeding the baby every 2 hours, and according to Dr. Denmark and Northside Hospital in Atlanta, if you feed a baby more often than every 4 hours for longer than 20 minutes, you drastically increase the chances of your baby developing colic and reflux. The mom decided to go ahead and feed the baby again at 2:00am and lay him back down. They finally made it through the night, but it was extremely difficult. The next day and night went very well, and then by the 4th night, the baby was sleeping 8 hours. He has had no more colic and has been continuing to sleep all night since. The baby hardly cries, even throughout the day, and has become a very happy baby boy!

The routine that Dr Denmark suggests is as follows: Feed only at 10, 2, 6 and then again at 10 for no more than 20 minutes at a time (10 minutes on each breast.) After the 10:00pm feeding, put the baby down in his crib, on his belly (she also tells how to make the crib safe and comfortable.) The baby should stay there until 6 the next morning. At that time, you pick the baby up, feed him and then put him back down until 10:00am. I have read accounts and personally witnessed this schedule working with all types of babies and personality types. I have used this schedule with both of my children. My first son was 5 weeks old when I was first introduced to her routine. I immediately started it, and he was sleeping all night within 3 days. With my second son, I started it immediately after birth. He began sleeping all night when he was 10-days-old.

My first son was in the NICU for 4 days after birth, and when we brought him home from the hospital, the NICU nurses had already put him on this eating schedule, and he was following it very well. I also bottle-fed my first child and nursed my second. Neither one had any problems following the 4-hr-schedule, and neither did my body. I adjusted even throughout the night.

Dr. Denmark wrote a book called "Every Child Should Have a Chance" that is no longer in print. It has now been revised to "Dr. Denmark Said It!"

Welcome!

Hello friends! I am so excited that you have decided to join me! I have finally decided to start the blog that I believe God has been putting on my heart to start. In these blogs, I am going to write about the things that are close to my heart or what I feel that God is speaking to me about at the time. Once-a-week, we will be talking about things like: home school, health, mommy-hood, family life, saving money, or life's big adventures. So let's sit back, put on our seat belts and get ready to enjoy the show...