Need Some Help Getting In All Those Fruits & Veggies?

I thought this article was extremely helpful. I found it here. Let me know what you think. Is it helpful to you at all? (I have added a few comments in red.)

Getting the recommended 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily will go a long way toward your quota of antioxidants and other nutrients. You don’t have to munch carrots and raw broccoli from dawn to dusk, but you do need to start thinking about fruits and veggies long before dinner. Four and a half cups – equal to nine servings – may sound like a lot, but don’t throw in the dishtowel yet. Here are 40 easy ways to boost your antioxidant intake.

Start Early

1. A small glass of 100% fruit juice is the perfect energizing start to your day. Vary your juices to balance your nutrient intake. Try the usual orange and grapefruit juice and the not-so-usual pomegranate and blueberry. I have been doing this. I mix pomegranate juice (2 oz.) grape juice.

2. Top eggs with your favorite store-bought salsa. I love to top my fried eggs with sauteed onions! My Dad will be SO surprised!

3. Add sautéed mushrooms, onions, red and yellow bell peppers, or tomatoes to omelets.

4. Slice peaches, bananas, strawberries, or other fresh fruit onto your cereal. Bananas on Grape Nuts! Yummy!

5. Mix dried cranberries or raisins into your oatmeal.

6. Toss frozen fruit, low-fat yogurt and nutmeg or sweetener in a blender for a quick out-the-door breakfast smoothie. Smoothies are great with yogurt, a banana, and any other fruit to throw in. My girls always want me to add some peanut butter though! I also add powdered flax seed and olive oil. So good for you and a small amount will never be noticed.

Punch Up Your Cooking

7. Thread some pineapple, nectarines, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in with your chicken or steak kabobs.

8. Add canned or frozen vegetables to soups.

9. Build your own veggie pizza. Top a plain cheese pie with spinach, fresh herbs like basil and tarragon, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, or small pineapple cubes.

10. Use spaghetti squash in place of pasta.

11. Add zucchini, green beans or eggplant to your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce.

12. Pack pasta and potato salads with extra veggies. Be colorful and toss in broccoli, red bell peppers, carrots, and purple onion.

13. Perk up a dull green salad with nuts, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds, apple slices, red beans, or jarred artichokes. I have recently tried the cranberries and that was great! Thanks for the idea Beverly! Raisins are good too...and some sunflower seeds.

14. One to two days a week, wash, chop and separate raw veggies into plastic bags. You’ll have carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, celery, zucchini, and more antioxidant-packed foods readily available to toss into salads or add to casseroles.

15. Sneak in some extra beans. For example, thicken traditional chili or a favorite soup with a can of mashed white beans. No one will know they’re there. This could work. My bean hating daughters might never know.

16. Top nachos with kidney beans.

17. Mix apples, grapes and walnuts in your chicken salad. Try white beans and diced carrots in tuna salad.

18. Add fresh herbs to salads. When using them in hot food, add them toward the end of cooking.
19. Learn to cook with the most antioxidant-rich herbs and spices: ground clove, dried oregano, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, turmeric powder, dried basil, ground mustard seed, curry powder, paprika, and chili powder.

Snacks

20. Put individual servings of grapes, cherries or raw veggies into small plastic bags. Keep them at eye level in the refrigerator, not tucked behind the leftover takeout. Grabbing a high-fiber, antioxidant-packed snack should be as easy as grabbing a bag of chips. I am hoping Sun Chips count as something good too.

21. Mix berries and nuts into nonfat yogurt.

22. Keep an old breath mint tin filled with nuts. Pull it out when you’re stuck in traffic and in need of an energy boost. This is a great idea! I always hate throwing out those tins so this could work.

23. Add a variety of dried fruit to trail mix. Making your own granola is easy and good too. Then you can add all the things you want. It makes a wonderful breakfast cereal. My girls LOVE it!

Out and About
24. In restaurants, start your meal with a vegetable or bean soup or a colorful mixed salad. I have been working on this one and doing pretty well. I like salads so it is not a problem for me.

25. Swap French fries for a side salad or steamed vegetables. Now this one is a bit harder! I do love fries!

26. Ask for extra veggies on sandwiches.

27. Bring five pieces of fruit to work every Monday for a different snack each day of the week.

28. If you’re unexpectedly out at lunchtime, run by the grocery store instead of the drive-through. Pick up a prepared salad and piece of fruit. I know this is probably a good idea. However, when I see those salads at the store they always look SO pitiful and not really nutritious with all that ice berg lettuce.

Sip Your Antioxidants

29. Drink brewed black or green tea. Tea is our best source of a class of compounds called catechins, which are potent antioxidants. Green tea contains three times the catechins as black tea. Brew it up at home; bottled tea doesn’t offer the same health benefits. I saw what looks like a good recipe for making Green Tea Soda, just today. You can see it here.

30. Sip on vegetable juice, plain or with some hot sauce for extra kick.

31. Spice up your hot tea with antioxidant-rich ground cloves and cinnamon.

32. Enjoy a glass of red wine. Moderate drinking is linked with reduced rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Some scientists credit the antioxidant resveratrol for these positive effects. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women, two per day for men.

33. Have a mug of brewed coffee as your early morning or midday energizer. Be careful what you put in it, though. Those lattes and mochas can turn coffee into a sugar and fat fest. Bummer, that is the way I like my coffee....basically, when you can't even tell it is coffee any more.

34. Opt for one of these antioxidant-rich juices: grape, pomegranate, cranberry, pineapple, and orange. Or mix and match them for your own unique blend.

Sweet Treats

35. Skewer some fresh berries, grapes and peach slices for a fun dessert.

36. Top ice cream with berries or pomegranate seeds.

37. Freeze fresh grapes for a delicious, all-natural frozen dessert. My girls really like this one.

38. For a sophisticated dessert that does antioxidant double duty, dip strawberries, pineapple cubes, and sliced apples and bananas into a dark chocolate fondue. Oh my! Yummy!

39. Make ice-pops from any 100% fruit juice. We have done this in the past. The girls really liked it and I felt much better about giving it to them.

40. Indulge in small amounts of dark chocolate or cocoa without guilt. Like tea, chocolate and cocoa contain catechins. Research suggests that they may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus improving your risk for cardiovascular disease. Chocolate! Yippee!!!

I thought this was a great article. What do you think? Do you have any more tips?

Trade In Horoscopes For A Birth Verse!

My wonderful friend Sherry sent this to me. It is pretty neat. Thanks Sherry!

You know, many people pay a lot of attention to their horoscope. As a Christian, we trust in Jesus to plan and reveal to us our future. Looking into HIS word is so much better.

This is a fun website. Click here to find YOUR birth verse. I was really happy with mine.

You can also purchase jewelry displaying your birthverse by clicking here. That is also the location for the above photo.

Easter Is On Its Way!

Found this today. In light of Easter being so close I thought it was a perfect thing to look at. I don't know anything about this website other than the page I am linking to. However, I thought the pictures on this page were great and really tell the story. What do you think?

TRUE AMERICAN

I love this!

TRUE AMERICAN

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.
God Bless the U S A ! Amen

Cute-ness To Share!

Just a little (actually, a lot) of cute-ness to share with you. This reminds me a lot of my oldest daughter when she was little.

A Homeschool Buyers Co-op?

I am so excited about this. I discovered the greatest thing for homeschoolers. This is a co-op. They are trying to grow to have enough buying power as schools. You must go visit this website. Homeschoolers click here! I am thinking of doing this offer.

If you have this or have heard stuff about it, please comment, and let me know.

Below is just a poem I really like. Hope you like it too.

My Reason For Homeschooling By Anita Doran

I want to be
the special potter,
Who molds and shapes my little daughter.
To keep her
closely to my side,
To teach her why Jesus died.

I think that she is
doing great,
Especially since she’s only eight.
She shops, she bakes,
she mops the floor,
Has two cats she’s responsible for.

She can read
a product label
To see if it’s fit for our table.
I teach her all about
life, you see,
As she tags along with me.

And no matter where we
roam,
We keep on learning, just like home.
We add a little mystery,
By learning the state’s history.

Although she reads and writes and
sings,
She’s learning more important things.
Like love and kindness and
God’s word,
How to be humble, yet still be heard.

Sure it’s hard and
I have my doubts,
“Am I doing this right?” “How will she turn out?”
And
my house gets such a mess!
Too many papers strewn, I guess.

Sometimes frustration rears its head,
She didn’t do what I said.
Yet, all in all, it is a charm,
To have my daughter on my arm.

If I ever have a doubt,
I get our big old Bible out.
In the
book, I always see
That this is how it’s meant to be.

Side be side,
day by day,
Teaching her the Godly way.

Are You Really An Adult?

Here is an interesting little guide. How do you rate? How do your teenagers rate? As I was telling my teen age daughter last night, our job as parents is to teach them how to rely on themselves. How are we doing? I am sure we all have room for improvement. However, using this as a gauge for our current society I think we are sadly lacking in adults in this country.

Diane Dumas and Robert Epstein reviewed academic literature, interviewed adults, and consulted with professionals before concluding that there are 14 different "competencies" that distinguish adults from non-adults:

Love. Adults know the difference between sex and love and know what it means to experience love.

S*x. Adults know about making babies, about self-control, about being pure.

Leadership. Adults know how to act as leaders of others adults, of children, of pets.

Problem solving. Adults know the difference between right and wrong and are able to solve a wide variety of problems.

Physical abilities. Adults are supposed to be physically self-sufficient.

Verbal and math skills. Adults know "reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic" and can apply what they know to their stewardship of time and money.

Interpersonal skills. Adults know how to converse with, show respect for, forgive, apologize to, get along with, and assist other people.

Handling responsibility. Adults know to accept blame for their wrongdoing and how to honor the commitments they've made.

Managing high-risk behaviors. Adults know how to handle risky items and activities responsibly.

Managing work and money. Adults know how to get and keep jobs.

Education. Adults have obtained a basic education and know its value.

Personal care. Adults practice basic hygiene and good nutrition.

Self management. Adults can mange their own behavior: keeping appointments, accomplishing tasks, and preventing their anger from getting out of control.

Citizenship. Adults know about government and how to be good citizens.

Source: Robert Epstein, The Case Against Adolescence (Sanger, CA: Quill Driver, 2007), pp. 148-157.

This article came from this web site. If you haven't already, be sure to check it out.

The Death Of The Grown Up?

We often hear about teenagers who refuse to act like adults. But what about adults who refuse to act like adults? The call goes out--to "grow up" and set a good example--in this edition of Get Ready to Lead!

Will the "death of the grown-up" lead to the death of Western Civilization?

Diana West hits hard for a girl. And she does it all with a word processor. Her recent book The Death of the Grown-up challenges one of the fundamental assumptions of the modern age, namely, that it is a good thing to seek youth and embrace immaturity.

Taking note of people who are concerned with the passing of the baton from one generation to the next, she says:

Even as age has been eliminated from the aging process, they have a hunch that society has stamped out more than gray hair, smile lines, and cellulite. What has also disappeared is an appreciation for what goes along with maturity: forbearance and honor, patience and responsibility, perspective and wisdom, sobriety, decorum, and manners--and the wisdom to know what is "appropriate," and when.

So what is the solution? It's simple, according to West: learn to say "no." In the Epilogue she calls to mind the first issue of National Review, from 1955, in which William F. Buckley wrote,

If National Review is superfluous, it is so for very different reasons: It stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.

Maybe I'm becoming a dinosaur, but in recent weeks I've found lots of practical ways to apply this advice: saying "no" to a speaking engagement that would take me away from my family for too long, asking a restaurant server to turn down the music that was unnecessarily loud and impeding conversation, and turning around to two non-adult men in an airplane and asking them to refrain from using vulgar language.

In each case, I was grateful to have my entreaties accepted gracefully. It wasn't nearly has hard as I thought it would be to say "no," and I'm getting used to it. In fact, I'm starting to like it!


The above article was from a newsletter sent out by this web site.

Just Grow Up!

When looking at society, I can't tell you how many times I have had that thought. "Just Grow Up"! Often, the word selfish comes to my mind too. Then I realize selfishness and immaturity (non-adult like) really do go hand in hand. Now I have read some things that make me realize the reason behind my thoughts. My comments are in red.

Did you know:

~More adults, ages eighteen to forty-nine, watch the Cartoon Network than watch CNN. I have never understood the appeal of cartoons for adults.

~The average video gamester was eighteen in 1990; now he's going on thirty. No way!

~The National Academy of Sciences has redefined adolescence as the period extending from the onset of puberty, around twelve, to age thirty. You have got to be kidding me! So 10 years later they go through their "mid-life crisis"?

~In Italy, nearly one in three thirty-somethings have still not left home. Did I mention, GROW UP! I suppose this explains the society that tolerates and is entertained by the Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton's.

I found this picture here.

Just in case you are one of those that thinks you have plenty of time to grow up talk to a real adult about how time flies. You can also watch this video.

Adoption

(I don't know anything about the above book but I loved this image. If you know about this book let me know what you thought about it.)

This is a great story. This article is about a friend of mine. I am so excited to see that others are getting to read about their life. As those of you that know me are probably aware the subject of adoption is very close to my heart. You may find their story to be especially interesting when you see how it all happened for them. Be sure to click here to read the article about Connie.

...but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God: Romans 8:15-16

Homeschool Support Group Skit

My daughter did a skit at our homeschool support group meeting last night. I realize if you are not a friend of family member this may not thrill you. However, for friends and family members I am posting it here. This skit is to convince the people in our group to get their yearbook family pages done and handed in by the deadline. At the end of the year we make up a pretty nice yearbook. Hope you like the skit, entitled " A Yearbook Carol". You will even get to see the "Ghost of Yearbook Near Future". Be sure to turn your sound up so you can hear it.

Recent California Attack On Homeschooling-Why Should I Care?

(This article was sent out in a newsletter from this web site. I encourage you to go look around there. They have some great things to read and you will be challenged. If you don't want to read this whole article at least scroll down to where it says,

"Why This Issue Matters To You And Me".)

What the recent California attack on homeschooling means to you and me:

Last week I visited with Mike Farris, Homeschool Legal Defense Association founder. When I asked how he was doing, he replied morosely, "Pretty good considering that an appeals court in California just said that parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."

I listened in shock as he described the ruling and realized immediately that this is a battle that need to be enjoined by all concerned Christians. Why and how? That's what this issue of Get Ready to Lead is all about.

What is the future of educational freedom?

On Feb. 28, Judge H. Walter Croskey of the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles said that homeschooling is only legal if the teaching parent is a certified teacher. This would disenfranchise virtually all of the estimated 175,000 homeschooled children in the state.

I asked Brad Dacus, the attorney for the Sunland Christian School (the umbrella school at the center of the controversy) about the ruling. "This is not a slam dunk on statutory grounds," he warned. Translation: California homeschoolers are in for a fight, and the outcome is not assured.

Even socially liberal California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed grave concern in his support for homeschool families: "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."


The Truth About Homeschooling

On the other side of the issue, California teachers unions seemed almost gleeful about the ruling. A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times that he agrees with it: "What's best for a child is to be taught by a credentialed teacher."

This is an outright lie. In a published study called Strengths of Their Own Dr. Brian Ray revealed data on 5,402 children from 1,657 families from across the United States. He found that homeschooled children performed substantially above the national average in academic testing. The studentsscored, on the average, at the following percentiles on standardized achievement tests:


(a) total reading, 87th,
(b) total language, 80th,
(c) total math, 82nd,
(d) total listening, 85th,
(e) science, 84th,
(f) social studies, 85th,
(g) study skills, 81st,
(h) basic battery (typically, reading, language, and mathematics), 85th, and
(i) complete battery (all subject areas in which student was tested), 87th.


(Note: The average score on standardized tests for the norm group, largely conventional school students, in all of the preceding categories is the 50th percentile).

Dr. Ray also studied 12 variables that he thought might explain the variance in students' test scores. The following seven variables were found to have no statistically significant effect on the variance between the scores:


(1) father's [teacher] certification status,
(2) mother's [teacher] certification status,
(3) family income,
(4) money spent on home education,
(5) legal status of family,
(6) time spent in formal educational activities, and
(7) age at which began formal education.


In other words, most homeschool kids are doing great, and it has nothing to do with whether either parent is certified to teach.


Why This Issue Matters to You and Me

I realize that this newsletter goes out to people who've made all kinds of educational choices, from homeschooling to Christian schooling to public schooling.

If you don't homeschool your first inclination may be to ignore the issue. This would be unwise. If parents lose the right to homeschool their children, who is to say that our right to teach anything at all to our children--especially our values--is secure?

More immediately, all Americans should be deeply disturbed at how far behind American children are. We ought to be embracing trends like homeschooling and private Christian schools that have such a dramatic positive effect on education.

Families in China, India and many developing countries are leaving Americans in the dust to the point that if present trends continue Americans will be the unskilled workers of the world within a generation. Don't believe it? Check out this chilling video on the Christian School Journal blog.

Those who are interested in passing the baton of godly faithfulness to the next generation are right to defending homeschooling, and to be deeply concerned about the quality of education in America.

Three things you can do right now:

1. Buy the Home Schooling: Pointing the Way to a Better Education DVD immediately and show it to everyone you can--skeptics and allies alike.

The video is hosted by Del Tackett (from Focus on the Family's Truth Project) and features interviews with home school experts such as Brian Ray, Mike Farris, Gregg Harris, Chris Klicka and Inge Cannon. It explodes the myths about home education and shows how homeschooling can help children become diligent, thoughtful and socially adept.

I spoke with the video producer yesterday evening and he agreed to give our subscribers free shipping and handling on the DVD. Just enter the code jmyers2008 when you get to the "confirm order" page. Click here to order.

2. Sign the HSLDA petition and encourage your friends to do the same.

The Home School Legal Defense Association is going to petition the Supreme Court of California to "depublish" the Appeals Court opinion. If the opinion is "depublished" then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers. Click here to sign.

3. Get the facts from NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute). My friend Dr. Brian Ray has published volumes of research about the academic achievement and positive socialization value of homeschooling, as well as the high level of success homeschool graduates have experienced in the "real world." Much of the research is free, though I strongly recommend you purchase the Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling.

Psst, Is Anyone There? Anyone Home?

Just wondering if anyone is out there. I think I have only had 5 people comment on this blog. (Don't you feel sorry for me?) Just need a little feedback so I know if anyone is there.

Also, feel free to tell me if there is a topic you would like to see covered on this blog or something you would like to see more of.

After that, you must go to my dear friend's blog. She has a very interesting video on there. Be sure to watch it through the end. Click here to see it.

Is anyone else surprised that it is already March? Wow, the time is flying!

Something To Ponder For Today

"A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away."
- Barry Goldwater

Comments anyone?

Evolution and school violence—a sad connection?

This image came from here.

People have been shocked in recent times at the outbreak of violence in public schools in America and around the world. Some schools have installed metal detectors to try to curb such violent behavior.

What does evolution have to do with this sad—and shocking—situation?

What we see happening is the end result of an education system that has effectively eliminated God from the classroom. When you think about it, generations of young people are being brainwashed each day in evolutionary ideas. They are being told that they are nothing special—they are just animals that have evolved from some primitive form of life over millions of years.

The more society as a whole thinks this way, the more people will act consistently with what they’ve been taught. If life is not special, then it has no value. If there’s no God, and thus no absolute authority, then anyone can decide right and wrong for themselves.

Most of the students probably don’t realize the connection of violence with evolution (though some have)—but underneath it all, this anti-God belief system has subtly caused them to think life is hopeless and without any purpose.

This was an excellent and interesting article from the Answers In Genesis newsletter. You can get their FREE newsletter here.

'Global Warming Is Lies' Claims Documentary'

Check out this article. I am so excited to see an article like this. One of my favorite things that was said is below the link. (Italics bold print are my words or were added for emphasis.)

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=CZ434669U&news_headline=global_warming_is_lies_claims_documentary

"At the moment, there is almost a McCarthyism movement in science where the greenhouse effect is like a puritanical religion and this is dangerous."In the programme Mr Calder said: "The greenhouse effect is seen as a religion and if you don't agree, you are a heretic."

By the way, as much as I know it was full of political correct junk, I am embarrassed to say I just LOVED the movie "Day After Tomorrow". Love those nifty special effects and Dennis Quaid. I think I love every movie he is in. Great actor in my opinion or maybe he is just a likeable fellow. ~Kim

I Would Vote For This Guy!!!

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

"My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed."

Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.


Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short . The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. THEN EVERY YEAR THERE AFTER IT'll GO TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WONT GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home . On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.

Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany , and Russia . Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bonne chance, meza mies.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.

Mexico is also on List 2. IT's president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra thousand tanks and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.

We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there.

It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, 'darn tootin.'

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.

To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America . Thank you and good night. "

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

(This came to me in an email today and I just had to share it. Post a comment and let me know what you think.)

Stealing Cinderella

This image was found here.
I should have called this blog post "Bet I Can Make You Cry" but I didn't. I just heard this song for the first time today. It made me think of my Daddy (Dad this is dedicated to you).

This song is also for all the little girls out there (that would be all girls since I am convinced that we always have a little girl living inside of us) and to all the Daddy's out there. Just so you know there is always a special place in the heart of a girl for her Daddy.

Click here to see this video. When you are done with that video if you still haven't teared up check out this one, below. Let me know if you can keep from crying (or at least tearing up) because you will deserve some kind of award. :-) ~Kim



In place of

"She was playing Cinderella"

I would have to say playing the roller skating Queen but that wouldn't make a very good title would it?

In place of

"Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight"

I would have to change it to bouncing on the bed and playing with her Barbie dolls!

You can read all the lyrics below

I came to see her daddy for sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret i'd be asking for her hand
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
with at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf

- Chorus -

She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i'm Prince Charming
But to him i'm just some fella
riding in and stealing Cinderella

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I said "Yes, she quite a woman"
and he just stared at me
Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i'm Prince Charming
But to him i'm just some fella
riding in and stealing Cinderella

He slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That's when I could see it too

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time
I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella

To Christians and Non-Christians -Get Ready

There is a very interesting post on my friends blog. Everyone should see it. If you are a Christian it could be a wake up call. Maybe you need to look at your life a little closer. If you are not a Christian you DO need to see it and you should talk to someone that is a Christian. No, not someone that is a Christian in name only or is "religious" but someone that has a relationship with Jesus Christ. The world is changing and there are things we need to really pay attention to. If you were going on a trip to another country or even another state you would want to be prepared. You would want to research the area and get all the information you could. You would want to plan and pack. You would not just head out the door without a map or a plan.

If you are not a Christian you need a plan......Check out my friends blog here.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

No Limits on TV?

TV can be really good or it can be really bad. Right now we have to work together to stop something bad.

Help protect our children!


On Friday ABC joined ranks with Fox and CBS to challenge the Federal Communications Commission's authority to fine broadcasters for airing so-called fleeting profanity. They want to make it okay to air "F-words" and "S-words" over the public airwaves, regardless of time of day or how many children are watching.

We can NOT let this happen!

Your activism last summer helped to move this important legislation out of committee and onto the floor of the Senate. But now it is being blocked from coming to a vote.

We've already seen what the broadcast networks are willing to do when left to their own devices -- unfettered foul language, graphic sex and nudity, explicit violence... Is this the legacy we want to leave our children? Please help us take a stand for decency. Help us give the FCC the tools it needs to get the job done.


Click here for more information and to see what you can do to stop this.

Why We Homeschool Part 5

Images in this post were found here.
This is the last day of my 5 part series. Once you are done reading this please leave a comment. After sharing my thoughts I am wondering what your thoughts are on homeschooling.

One of our daughters has had some difficulty in language processing and reading. If she had been in school I am sure she would have been slapped with a label and maybe they would have wanted to medicate her. I am sure that at the very least she would have been made fun of and her self-esteem would have been shot. These are things she gets to avoid. The saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is not true. Those hurtful words can break our hearts and stick with us our whole lives. I am so glad to help my children avoid those. This is not to say that our children have never been made fun of (it has not been very often though) but they come to us when it happens. We are able to comfort them and put it into perspective. Instead of that, my daughter brags, "I am Momma's helper" and "I am Momma's problem solver". She recently figured out how to put a trampoline together.


Martin Luther, in the seventeenth century said:
"I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures engraving them in the youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt."

I think the above quote is very interesting and we don't have a problem with this either. Bible is a daily part of life. The girls read their Bibles daily and we often have discussions on the Bible, Holy living, life choices, consequences, morality, and the lack of morals in society. We also don't have the problem of other people telling my children in word or deed that the Bible is useless or unreliable and/or there is no God. In the grand scheme of things, when all is said and done, will an algebra equation, photons, or diagramming sentences be the issue .........or eternity?

You know in all honesty I often think to myself what a great life my girls have. I would love to have lived in a world that was full of support, love, and understanding instead of those dreadful school years. Who loves you, supports you and understands you better than your own parents? That is one reason why homeschool parents make great teachers. They know their children better than anyone else. Can any other teacher compete with that? (I am not saying everything is perfect either. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world so we all have problems.)

I wrote the "Why We Homeschool" some time ago. Recently, there have been some hilarious, frustrating, or frightening things that make me even more glad we homeschool. Some examples are the child that is being punished for hugging in school, the child that has distracting hair, banning games and running, severely inappropriate relationships with students, and of course all the school shootings are a good argument for homeschooling.

Recently, my oldest daughter (age 17) was asked what her favorite thing about homeschooling was. Her answer surprised herself. She said it was being family oriented. That was one of those days where I was especially proud to be called a homeschooler.

I could go on about this topic for a long (er) time but I will stop for now. I hope that after sharing our thoughts on this subject you will look at homeschooling in a different way. I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

Why We Homeschool Part 4

I found the image above here.

(Tomorrow is the last day of this 5 part series. Please, leave comments on this topic. I would love to know your thoughts or questions.)

My children are free to follow their interests even if they aren't popular. Nobody makes fun of them or calls them names if their interests seem different. For the most part my children don't understand being mean to others and teasing or bullying others isn't a favorite pastime. They have compassion for others.

We have a flexible schedule and that is sure nice. One of my favorites is when making dental or medical appointments. Often they will ask, "before or after school"? Well, it doesn't really matter since we homeschool. It seems to make them pretty happy to hear that and I suppose make their day a little bit easier. They can squeeze us in just about any where. Truthfully, though, super early doesn't work well for us. ;-)

My girls have also had many great opportunities that they would have missed out on if they had been in school. Recently they participated in the Flag Honor Guard for a local family that lost their 21 yr. old son in Iraq. I was so glad they could be there to honor the fallen soldier and his family. I was glad they could see others in the community doing the same thing. One of my daughters has participated in feeding the homeless or handing out groceries and another time helping with the children in a Vacation Bible School in a homeless shelter for a few days. She has also helped stuff envelopes for an organization that helps pregnant teen girls. (My other daughter will do these types of things when she is older.)

Both my girls have been part of a group that picked up trash in a park, they were part of a group of children that made cookies & cards for our local firemen, they were part of a group that sang to the elderly in a nursing home. They helped with Operation Christmas Child and making Christmas cards for our military. Both girls have watched and/or helped to prepare & take food to friends/acquaintances that experienced a death in the family or recently had a baby. They have been with me when we went to stay with/assist a mother at her home that had recent surgery.

A lot of people act like homeschoolers don't live in or see the real world. What is more real? A classroom of peers (all your same age) that you spend your whole day with all the same age as you, or living and working with your family doing daily activities, passing out food to needy people, visiting the elderly, helping another mom, or participating in honoring a fallen soldier?

Click here for part 5.

Why We Homeschool Part 3

I found this image here.

Once the decision was made I had peace about it all. I knew this was the answer that God had provided. I also knew this would be a hard road but well worth it. A lot of people didn't understand and I am sure were very concerned. Unlike some people, I didn't have any rude family members or friends that grilled me on this. I did have questions and I certainly understood that. This was a really new and different thing for most people. At that time I didn't know anyone that homeschooled or so I thought.

Over a period of time I remembered that one of Michael's co-workers homeschooled. I didn't know them very well but over the years they have become dear friends. My friend, helped me in so many ways. She was always available to answer my questions, look at her curriculum, and just be there to talk when I needed her. She was a gift from God! Thank you Karen! (As a side note, she now has 7 children. One of her children has graduated and is at ORU. He is very smart and he impresses me every time I see him with what a respectful young man he is. All of her children love God, are respectful, well behaved, full of compassion, and smart! )


There are SO many benefits of homeschooling. The first thing I love is the relationship I have with both of my children. We are very close. I had heard for many years about how terrible the pre-teen and teen years are. I have a 17 yr. old and have loved all 17 years. I haven't had other children telling my children on a daily basis how stupid their parents are. I haven't had other children teaching my children how to be rebellious towards their parents. I haven't had other children or teens teaching my children how to drink, smoke, or become sexually active. My children have the same values as my husband and I. We have taken time to explain those values and morals to our children (probably more often than they would like). These are shared values and morals not things we have forced on them. We haven't had a system fighting against our family for the last 11 years trying to undermine us. We are our children's peers. That sounds funny but it is really a neat thing. Our children have their own personality and style for sure. However, they don't have the pressure to dress inappropriately, because everyone else is or to fit in. They don't have to work at getting the attention of boys because their father pays attention to them. They don't have that need or that desire.


They don't have the need to fit in because they already do. They fit into our family perfectly. We accept them and love them unconditionally. We are not like the typical school peers that like them one day and not the next. We accept them no matter what their hair looks like or clothes. We don't think they are weird when they talk about important heart matters. We don't make fun of them for caring about other people or showing love, friendship, or kindness to others that may seem "uncool".

How has this helped my children? In so many ways! I will share with you some of them. My children don't feel near the pressure that other children do to fit in. Keep in mind there have been a few times that they felt left out....mostly at youth group in church. :-( Since they don't have this pressure they are free to be themselves. They don't flinch at all when in a social setting with adults. They have no trouble fitting into situations where there are no teenagers or no children their own age. We have a monthly activity where there is a 2 yr. old, a teenager, some younger children, and some adults. My girls get along just fine with all of them. Nobody minds playing with the 2 yr. old. They also have no problem conversing with the adults. They aren't upset that they aren't with their friends because they consider all these people their friends.

This has helped my children be more outgoing than me and to try new things! As I mentioned before I am shy by nature. It is difficult to say the least for me to meet new people. The idea of public speaking or being on a stage was horrifying. My husband was similar. These things were pretty far out of our comfort zone. How in the world can two people like that raise two children that don't have those fears? We encouraged them to do the things they wanted to do. We never let them know how frightened we were of these things for them. We acted like these were all very normal things. There was no peer pressure to be afraid of. Of course, we didn't tell them that we were shaking in our boots FOR THEM. Without peer pressure and fear to hold them back they have had some wonderful experiences that their parents have never had. Our oldest as many of you know has been in several community plays, has sang at church a few times, and was in a play on a stage with thousands of people watching.


Our youngest hasn't done the same things but is similar in not being afraid of those types of things. Just last night someone called to ask our youngest if she would be willing to stand up in our homeschool support group Mom's meeting to talk about the Middle School Game Nights. She didn't even flinch. Sure! I thought she would be a bit nervous but that didn't even come to her mind. She was just excited that she was asked to share.


She has never met a stranger and loves to talk to people. She tells me her best friend is our 80 yr. old neighbor! He is so interesting she says. He fought in WW2 Mom. Isn't that cool? Yes, it is I say. It is very cool. We have tried to teach our girls that the older you are the more wisdom you have. As a matter of fact to help them learn that idea I told my children many years ago, "the more gray hairs a person has the more wisdom they have". I tell them that the longer a person lives the more time they have had to gain wisdom and gray hairs! I tell my children to listen to older people because we value their wisdom. Of course, this has come back to haunt me a bit. Hannah keeps asking WHY I want to cover up my gray hairs. "That is your wisdom Mommy!" :-)

Click here for part 4

Why We Homeschool Part 2

I found this image here.


At the time we were pondering the school issue for our daughter we were watching a late night Christian talk show person. He had commercials regarding homeschooling and started talking about homeschooling. We had never known anyone that did that and didn't know anything about it. (Feeling like a pioneer again.) Well, actually I did seem to recall someone that homeschooled when I was a child (well, I think I had just heard about them) and everyone thought they were freaks. Not something that sounded good to me! I didn't want people to think we were freaks! (I found out years later there are some pretty normal and awesome people that homeschool!)

One day my husband came to me and said "why don't we homeschool"? Hmm, great question. My first thought was "why don't YOU homeschool"! I didn't go to college and get a degree in teaching! I don't know anything about it and it sure sounded frightening!!! I can't do THAT!!!!
That was my first reaction. However, even though that was probably the end of the conversation for that day that thought kept nagging me. Why don't we? Why not? Of course, then I would remember all the reasons why, no degree in teaching, who do I think I am , what will people say, etc. The funny thing was that the more time went on the more I wondered to my self, why not? I decided to investigate. I went to the library and got every book I could on homeschooling and learned all I could. The more I learned the more I realized that we could do it! This was not an impossible thing at all.

People have been homeschooling since the beginning. Who taught Adam & Eve's children? There were no schools and college educated teachers, only parents. What do parents do? They teach! How do children learn to walk, to talk, to eat, to go potty? The parents teach them. The children learn by watching the parents and the parents take time to actually teach the children. I realized I had been teaching since my little baby came into this world. I even taught her what the cow says and what the horsey says. ;-) I also realized that there was a time in US history that people didn't even go to school. We had some of the most well educated and well spoken people during that time. Reading the writings of people close to the beginning of our country is amazing. Who taught them how to read, to write so eloquently? It had to have been their parents.

We have had some really famous people that were homeschooled. What about presidents that were homeschooled? Think of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, & Thomas Jefferson. These were brilliant men! What about Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, George Washington Carver, Mozart, Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, & C.S. Lewis? What would America be without these great men?

If you are interested in finding out about many other famous homeschoolers check out this link.

http://www.home4schoolgear.com/famoushomeschooler.html

These were not ignorant men. These men were taught by their parents. It is obvious from their lives that their parents taught them a lot more than facts and figures. I believe, and their lives show, that their parents taught them things that would help them get through life and be great achievers and/or great leaders. They were taught excellent work ethics, morals, diligence, patience, leadership qualities, determination, and many more important life skills. They didn't learn these qualities from a school teacher or their peers in a classroom.

At this point I realized this whole "homeschooling" idea may be a really great thing! When I realized I could keep my little girl at home with me and she could still get a good education I was thrilled. This was the answer to my aching heart. As always, God is faithful!

Click here for part 3.

Why We Homeschool Part 1

I found this image here.

A while back a friend asked me to explain WHY we felt that homeschooling is best and WHY I felt being a stay at home Mom is best. I decided to answer that question here in my blog. The best way for me to answer that is to share how we came to the conclusion to homeschool, how we feel about it, and the things we see in it.

DISCLAIMER: First of all, before you go any further I want you to know that it is not my intention to condemn anyone for their decisions. In the same way many women feel very strongly that they need to work or that their children should attend school I feel just as strongly about what we are doing. This in no way makes me think badly of others. This is what we feel the Lord has led us to do so of course, we feel very strongly about it. When you feel strongly about something like this you think everyone should do it. However, we realize that God hasn't led everyone to do the same things as we do. We know that God has different plans for everyone and we are not all the same. Know that I will be saying a lot of good things about homeschooling so if you think that will offend you stop now. I DO NOT WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE. If you are reading this you may very well be a valued and precious friend or family member. That is a group of people I love dearly so stop if singing the praises of homeschooling will offend you.


I felt the same way about nursing my baby. Before I had my first child I was convinced that breast-feeding my baby was the best thing. It was obvious with all the research (and the fact that God made it this way and HIS way is always best) that you could come to no other conclusion. While I felt a bit like a pioneer (I had never known anyone that did this) I was convinced 100% it was the right thing to do for my baby. It was awkward and difficult a lot of times (just like homeschooling!) and I knew that a lot of people probably didn't understand. At that time people were not real accepting of it. I am by nature a shy & modest person so I was pretty paranoid unless I was sitting in a tent. Of course, there aren't many times when you can sit in a tent so that made it difficult and made me very self conscious. I kept doing what I felt was the right thing and the best thing for my baby. Over time I began to get over some of the paranoia. The longer I did it the more I knew it was the right thing to do. During that time I was well aware of the fact that a lot of women didn't make the same decision I made. I knew it was not practical at all for a woman that worked. I knew there were circumstances that made it difficult or impossible. I also knew that there were many good mothers out there that just didn't have the same convictions as I did. I realize the same thing about homeschooling. I have seen some really good mothers that really love their children. They don't have the same convictions as I do but that doesn't mean I think any less of them. To be honest though, when they tell me of difficulties in school I can't help but think "that is the great thing about homeschooling". Whatever the issue is I know that it wouldn't be an issue or it could be much less of one if the child were homeschooled. Having said all of that now I want to address homeschooling, why we do that and why we love it.

Our decision to homeschool was mostly economical. When that little baby I mentioned above was getting close to her 5th birthday my heart began to ache. I knew that it was almost time for her to go to school. I couldn't imagine my darling little angel being whisked away from me each morning only to return several hours later. She would be all alone! I wouldn't be there with her. Won't she be frightened? What if she needs me? I have always been there for her and with her. How can this work? The more I thought about it the more I thought, "this is just how it is, this is what I have to do, everyone else does it". What choice did I have? She had to go to school! But she was only 5 years old! It just isn't right to rip a 5 yr. old from her Mother's arms!

It's unnatural!

My husband and I didn't see public school as an option at the time. We felt that our little angel would do better in a Christian School. That made me feel better about leaving my daughter with a bunch of strangers. At least, it would be strangers that had similar convictions and would care about my girl. My heart ached a bit less but it still ached.....

Click here for part 2.

The King of Spices

The King of Spices

Almost everyone knows that a dash of black pepper can add flavor to just about any dish. What you may not know about the "king of spices" is that it comes from a plant that can grow more than 30 feet tall in tropical climates.

Indigenous to India, pepper has been a covetous spice for thousands of years.

The ancient Greeks used it as a currency and offered it as a sacrifice to their gods. Many Greeks even paid their taxes with pepper – something you may wish the IRS would allow. By the time of the Middle Ages, men calculated their wealth by their stockpiles of this wonderful spice.

Why has black pepper been considered so valuable? Not only does it spice up food, but it's also an excellent source of manganese, vitamin K, iron, and fiber.

It also improves digestive disorders and keeps the intestines healthy.

That's right: the taste of black pepper alerts the stomach to secrete extra amounts of hydrochloric acid which helps to digestion. In fact, if our stomachs have a deficiency of this substance, then food will sit in our tummies long enough to give us heartburn and indigestion; when these putrid food particles are passed to the intestines, then a lot of unpleasant symptoms, like flatulence, may occur. So think of pepper as a type of aphrodisiac in that you won’t repel prospective mates.

Black pepper also contains remarkable weight loss properties – the outer layer of the peppercorn fuels the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slender, energetic, and even younger.

Of course not all peppers are created equal. While all peppers come from the same vine, different kinds result from harvesting the berries at distinct stages of the ripening and processing them in diverse ways. For example, green peppercorns are picked long before maturity in the green stage; white pepper comes from completely ripe peppercorns that have been picked close to maturity. And finally, our beloved black pepper come from berries as they are beginning to ripen from green to yellow and while still relatively immature. They are then boiled for a short time, and then dried naturally in the sun until they’re perfect.

Unfortunately most pepper sold in the U.S. is a mixture from a variety of low-grade peppers bought at the lowest possible price. A superior form of pepper comes from the Lampong district of South-eastern Sumatra, the center of pepper production in Indonesia. Lampong pepper berries tend to be smaller than those of Indian pepper, which gives it a finer flavor than other peppercorns.

Lampong pepper is one of the one of the strongest and hottest black pepper with a powerful flavor.

For the best grade of Lampong pepper, just click on http://www.rawleigh-products.com/. There you'll find, along with other superior grade spices, the best pepper you've ever tasted. Rawleigh’s special method of granulation allows fewer oil cells to be crushed or broken, producing an authentic and fragrant black pepper.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 28, 2007, 01:11

For more information click here.

Meanest Mom On The Planet?

After....a discovery, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

Is she really the meanest Mom on the planet? Read this and you decide.

After you check that out you must watch this funny video. It is a homeschool video and I saw it at Kahri's blog. You must watch it for me! :-) Turn your sound up before you start it. You have to watch it at least twice to catch it all.

The Magical Spice

The Magical Spice


• Its history dates back to 2800 BC when the Chinese used it to remedy colds, flu, and digestive disorders.

• Moses used it as an ingredient for his anointing oils.

• Roman Emperor Nero demanded that a year's supply of it be burned after he slaughtered his wife.

• In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote that 350 grams of it was equivalent to more than five kilograms of silver.

What substance could be so valued, so powerful, and so healing? A spice you likely have in the back of your kitchen cupboard . . . cinnamon. And it turns out that modern researcher doctors are just learning about the spice's many medicinal qualities.

Cinnamon is a small tree that grows in Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnam. A mere teaspoon of the spice has a whopping 28 mg of calcium, one mg of iron, one mg of fiber, and a smattering of vitamins C, K, and manganese. But that's just the tip of the spice rack.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Richard A. Anderson of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, a simple dash of cinnamon may improve the health of those suffering from type II diabetes.

Anderson and his colleagues at the USDA Agricultural Research Center had 60 diabetics consume capsules that contained zero, one, three, or six grams of cinnamon each day for 40 days. The capsules with no cinnamon contained wheat flour.

Anderson's study found that all subjects given the cinnamon-laced capsules experienced up to 30 percent drops in their levels of glucose, fats and cholesterol.
Those who took the placebo showed no changes in their blood levels. Apparently cinnamon, like insulin, helps the body's insulin signaling, glucose transport, and inflammatory response.

Cinnamon also has cholesterol-fighting properties: In Pakistan, a 40-day study of sixty people with Type II diabetes, found that just one-quarter of a teaspoon of the spice taken twice daily lowered not only lowered the subjects' blood sugar, but also their LDL or "bad cholesterol" as well as their overall cholesterol levels. This is good news for those wanting to prevent hypertension and heart disease.

Would you like to be more alert, more on on the ball, quick-witted? – a small splash of cinnamon could be the key to a smarter you. A research study presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Services found that the simple act of smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon-flavored gum improved subjects' brainpower in areas ranging from memory to recognition to attention and focus.

Healers have long known of cinnamon's antiseptic properties too. A Japanese study found that the spice not only soothes an upset stomach, but may even prevent ulcers. German researchers confirmed that cinnamon blocks bacteria that causes urinary tract and yeast infections.

On an important note, not all cinnamons are created equal. You will not reap the full benefits from cinnamon you bought five years ago. Ground cinnamon keeps most of its healing powers for up to six months.

Rawleigh uses an especially high-grade of cinnamon from the bark of an evergreen bush native to Sri Lanka. The bark is peeled away from the bush in thin strips, dried, and ground yet still retains three percent of its oil content – an amazing feat that provides a superior grade of cinnamon.

Remember, aside from its healing properties, cinnamon is a very versatile spice, used in curry powder as well as a variety of sweet dishes.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 6, 2007, 20:19

Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com/ or click here.

More information found here.

Why do many Christians accept evolution?

Why do many Christians accept evolution?

Unfortunately, many Christians—in fact, many pastors—accept some form of evolution and try to add it to the Bible. They say that God could have used evolutionary processes over millions of years to bring about plants, animals, and finally man. Many accept molecule-to-man evolution because they believe that science has “proven” that the earth is millions of years old, so they simply attach God to the process.

But this view, called “theistic evolution,” is actually destructive to the gospel message. Of course, this does not mean that people who believe in theistic evolution aren’t Christians, since the Bible teaches that believing in and confessing Christ’s death and resurrection is the key to salvation. However, they are being very inconsistent in their faith.

The Bible clearly teaches that when God created Adam and Eve, the world was perfect (i.e., “very good”). There was no death and bloodshed. But because of the sin of Adam, God brought death as a judgment into the world. Of course, He also provided a means by which man could be reconciled to his Creator.

But a Christian who believes in evolution over eons as told by evolutionists must also believe that God used death and bloodshed over millions of years as a way to bring man into existence. For them, the fossil record is not a sign of God’s judgment in the Flood, but of the cruel nature of the world they believe God created. However, if death is not a result of the Fall, then why would God need to send His Son to save us from death? In this view, cancer, pain, and death would simply be part of the original plan.

But thank God this is not the true history of the world. Death came into the world because of sin, but Christ came to the earth and died to save us from sin and death. There is no room for death before sin, and no room for the evolutionary myth in the Bible.

For more information, see: The God of an Old Earth.


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Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)

Global Warming; It is a SCAM!

If the founder of The Weather Channel spoke out strongly against the manmade global warming myth, might media members notice?

We're going to find out the answer to that question soon, for John Coleman wrote an article published at ICECAP Wednesday that should certainly garner attention from press members -- assuming journalism hasn't been completely replaced by propagandist activism, that is.

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create in [sic] allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the "research" to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus........


The rest of this article is here.

Another interesting one here.