Healthy Life with Jennell

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Here We GOOOOOOO!!!!

Well, here it is! I am launching into a new world -- the world of blogging. I'm excited, but a little overwhelmed too. And please bear with me as I figure everything out! My goal is to update the blog on a weekly basis, so be sure to return weekly to check out the new additions. I hope that you enjoy "Healthy Life with Jennell;" my goal is to make this sort of an online newsletter where you can learn tips for healthy living -- body, mind and soul. To your health!

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Spirit & Soul

I feel like I am going through a spiritual-growth-spurt lately. Ever been there???

Well . . . recently, we had an issue with a bike. You see, my second son, Cameron, had outgrown his bike, and it was basically falling apart! The chain kept coming off, and Wayne had tried to fix it so many times.

Back in April, a bike (a very cool bike that was the perfect size for Cameron) had been left leaning against the wall of our church. After about 10 days, we realized that probably the bike had been stolen and dumped there, and so we decided to do the right thing: we called the police to turn it in. After all, that's what we would want done for us if a bike of ours had been taken! We assured Cameron that doing the right thing was more important than keeping the bike for himself.

The police department said that we could wait 30 days, and if it was unclaimed, we could have it. We were thrilled! But then we were told it was a 90-day wait. OK, we would mark the calendar and hold out; Cameron's current bike would just have to last a little longer. Cameron prayed and prayed that he could have this bike.

When we called at the 90-day-mark, they told us it was ONE YEAR they had to hold on to it! WHAT?!?!?! HUH?!?!?! You have GOT to be kidding me! At this point, I got mad at God. I said, "OK, God. What is going on here??? We did the right thing, and this is what happens? Can't You show Yourself to be a God who cares about the prayers of a 9-year-old boy who not only wants but needs a new bike? Why can't You give us favor here? Cameron is so disappointed and sad! Why couldn't You just come through for us here?"

I proceeded to say the "right" thing to my son (though I did not believe it at all): "Cameron, if God didn't let you have this bike, then I just know He has a better bike for you!" Down deep inside, I fought feelings that God had let us all down and that He didn't care. Honestly, I threw a little spiritual fit! I was upset!

Well . . . you can probably guess what happened. God DID come through, but not in the way I thought He would. I would have settled for this used, left over, stolen bike for my son, but HE had a BRAND NEW BIKE in the works for Cameron! Long story short, God moved on the heart of a precious man to buy Cameron a new bike! Cameron could hardly contain himself! (Neither could I!!!) And he is happily riding this new, beautiful bike whose chain never falls off!

I could feel God beginning to gently "scold" me for my lack of faith . . . for doubting Him . . . for thinking that He did not care. I asked Him to forgive me, and I began to wonder how many times we SETTLE for something and try to make it all work out in the way WE see fit rather than WAITING on GOD'S plan and timing . . . I wonder how many times we settle for what's "left over" and miss out on something BETTER because we try to work things out our way . . .

So . . . the next time things don't work out my way, I am going to remind myself of this: God TRULY just has something BETTER for me that I cannot see at this moment. But if I will be patient for HIS timing, I will be amazed at the beautiful, new things He has instore for me spiritually, emotionally, physically -- in every way!!! THAT is FAITH!

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Gluten-Free and Lovin' It!!!

I'm adding this new section because as some of you may know, I am a gluten-free (GF) gal! I'm going to start this section by telling my story (which I hope will help others) and then later I'll be adding tips/recipes/thoughts on the whole GF lifestyle.

So -- for the past 15-20 years, I have been struggling with PAIN in my upper shoulders, back and neck. It started when I was in college, and just never went away really (except when I was pregnant, it was better -- go figure). I tried EVERYTHING to help -- Tylenol, Motrin, chiropractic, ice/heat, massage -- NOTHING helped long term. Not even Vicodin helped! After years of this, I just figured I had to live with the pain. I gave up.

About 18 months ago, my mom was doing research on eating GF, and she learned that chronic pain can sometimes be linked to gluten/wheat consumption. She told me about this and suggested that I go GF for 6 months to see if it would help. I said "No way! I like bread & crackers & pizza! No thanks!"

Well . . . after a few more excruciating months, I decided I was desperate. So I contacted my mom for tips on how to start eating GF. I'll be honest: the first month I felt SO deprived -- I missed crackers and bread sooooo much! But after 3 days of being GF, something very interesting and unexpected happened: my flatulence (aka GAS) went away! You see (and I hate to share this part, but I must), I have always been more of a "gassy person." I didn't know why, but I seemed to pass gas a lot -- I just thought it's the way my body was -- didn't know why. But after 3 days of no wheat/gluten, my gas (and the sometimes very painful abdominal cramps) was GONE!!! Wow!

Now -- it's not that I never ever pass gas -- but it is much less frequent -- and my tummy pain (related to the gas of course) is gone! It's wondeful. Now -- what about my neck/back/shoulder pain? It is very diminished, but still there from time to time. Regardless -- I am committed to living GF for the rest of my life . . . . maybe you've heard some things about gluten/wheat, but you're not sure what to think of it all -- well, come back next week for more info about gluten & wheat and how it affects YOUR health!

Notable Links!

From Dr. Mercola's website:
This is an AMAZING article all about the MYTH Americans have been told about Cholesterol being evil.
It's lengthy, but worth the read, especially if you or someone you love is using Cholesterol-lowering meds.
Follow the money . . . $$ -- this ENRAGES me!
Do these drugs really work??? You will be SHOCKED at the numbers!
Read about NATURAL ways to lower cholesterol!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/10/making-sense-of-your-cholesterol-numbers.aspx?aid=CD945

Healthy Tip of the Week

There is so much talk today about the incredible importance of Vitamin D for good health. But did you know that your body needs CHOLESTEROL to actually utilize the Vitamin D that you get from the sun??? Cholesterol is vital for MANY functions in our bodies! (Read Dr. Mercola's intriguing article in the Notable Links section for the amazing details on this.)

I challenge you to 3 things this week:
#1. Find out what your RATIOS are for your cholesterol -- they matter WAY more than your individual numbers (ie LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, etc.). The article tells you how to compute these ratios.
#2. At the end of Dr. Mercola's article, there are many suggestions as to how you can NATURALLY get your cholesterol into a healthy range. These suggestions surprised even me! You too may have never heard of some of these ideas either!
#3. Put some of these ideas into practice immediately!

HOT Story!

While mowing the lawn, my husband got stung by a bee (which hasn't ever really been a problem, until last week). He told me about it, I looked at it, and the spot was pretty red. Over the next couple days, it was not getting any better. It was about the size of a quarter and super red. It didn't appear the stinger was still in his skin -- it was just really red.
I decided to put some Herbal Aloe Gel on the spot just to see if that would help it heal faster. I did that a couple times one day and a couple times the next day. The third day, I noticed something black sticking out of the skin! It was the stinger! It had been so far in his skin that we couldn't see it, but because it was there, the area wouldn't heal! I got some tweezers and removed the stinger and reapplied more Herbal Aloe Gel for the next few days. Now, he's as good as new! The Herbal Aloe Gel helped draw the stinger out of the skin!
Check out the Product Focus section of this blog for more info on our amazing Herbal Aloe Gel!

Healthy Life with Jennell

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Here We GOOOOOOO!!!!

Spirit & Soul

On the Homefront

Followers

Blog Archive

Recipe Box

Product Focus

Gluten-Free and Lovin' It!!!

Just for Fun!