The Root of ALL Sickness & Disease ~ Healing Naturally

I'm not sure I will ever tire of learning about health and healing. You could probably say I somewhat geek out listening to a wide variety of health speakers... Western doctors, naturopaths, homeopaths, Ayurvedic physicians... I ponder what each one has to say, I look up results on what is actually working for people to heal, and when I say heal I don't mean to simply feel better. Through my own health experience I have tried a bit of everything. I was and am determined to be as healthy and strong as possible. I don't want a band aid solution to just feel a bit better, I want to know the root cause and heal the source so the discomfort is disarmed and gone from my body for good. We learn (or should have learned) to take responsibility for our actions at a very young age. If we do something wrong there are most likely consequences. When we turn to the Word we are told very early on in Genesis that we were given a very great responsibility. After creating male and female God said, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground. I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." Genesis 1:28-29 If we don't take good care of what the Lord has blessed us with, will their not be consequences? God provided what we needed to survive, to be healthy, and to enjoy life at the beginning of time, so I am starting to wonder why we are trying to alter His perfect design. When I look back at my life it was all up to me on what I put into my mouth and onto my skin. I had the choice of choosing something grown by God in nature or something man made in a lab, most likely with toxic chemicals that were never meant to be consumed. Back then I chose simplicity and what I thought tasted good at the time. I didn't think twice about what went into the food I was eating and I was not in the Word learning how I should live. To be honest I was departing from the ways of the Lord. I find it crazy how the Bible gives so much instruction and inspiration but few have the time to open it up, read it and put the words of wisdom into action. I get it, I've been there. We have busy lives. I'm a picture person and the Bible seemed daunting with all that tiny text. But I learned if you take the time to read it and reread it, you learn more about God and His ways, your relationship with Him starts growing, you start talking directly to Him and trying to do things His way. The most amazing thing is He starts answering you back in His own clever way. Seriously amazing.

Getting back to responsibility, it is up to us to be responsible for our own health and that of our children's. If we are overloading our body with to many toxins, what do we expect to happen? It has a limit. Thankfully for us, God knew what we would do and made our bodies capable of showing symptoms when something is off and needs attention. Problem has come that many are putting off signs and symptoms as normal, or thinking its just what happens as we get older. This is wrong. When symptoms are getting bad enough many go to a doctor for help. I did. Most do. But I hope to broaden your perspective. Does a doctor have the time to ask you all about how you've been treating your body? What you have been eating, drinking, or your environment? Does he or she even have time to hear all your symptoms or is it just the main one? Have you ever asked your doctor how many patients they have completely healed with your same ailment? If you have something more serious I urge you to ask that. Do you question what the doctor is recommending you to take? Do you look at the side effects of the prescription(s) you are given? Or do you simply put all your trust in the doctor because you think they know best since they have a degree in medicine? I've done this. But through my journey I learned this isn't always the best way. Doctors really don't know everything about the body and often never treat it as a whole. No, I'm not anti doctor. There is a special place and purpose for them, like when there is an accident or broken bone or such, but for the most part we have to look back at how we have been caring for ourselves. After all the health talks and readings I have done, it doesn't matter what name the doctor gives our symptom... autoimmune diseases, cancer, dementia, ALL of it, the source of the illness/disease is always the same thing... an imbalance in the system. What do I mean by this? Every person's body requires enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals (most are deficient), to run smoothly. Hormones (critical!) have to be working in harmony with each other. Our bodies require light from the outdoors, movement and exercise for important lymph flow, oxygen and natural detoxification. There could even be an imbalance in what we are thinking... is it too negative? If there is an imbalance, a blockage, toxins start accumulating in the body causing symptoms to appear. If nothing is done to help the body more issues start arising. That is why someone may get the cancer diagnosis. Their body is overloaded with toxins because it hasn't received proper care! The toxins need to be released. Sadly the society we live in today doesn't teach people the huge benefits of caring for ourselves the way we should. So many people have become so focused on making a buck that they alter anything they can get their hands on to sell for a good profit. The drug companies make an outlandish amount of money. But do you know God has already supplied what you need in order to have a healthy body and to heal yourself? He knew how neglectful we would be until we turned to Him. He is our all-knowing Father. He is our Healer. I have heard so many stories of people given so many days, weeks, months left to live by their doctor and this frustrates me to no end. For one, they aren't God. They don't know the number of days you have left. Number two, ALL things are possible with God. (He says so many times in the Bible.) So I believe if you want to be healed and you believe you can be with the help of God you can be well no matter what someone else says.

I hope you will consider my suggestions for healing naturally no matter the diagnosis:

1. A relationship with God, our Creator who knows how our body works... He made us!, prayer for His guidance on what is best for our situation, prayer for wisdom and clarity.

2. Positivity. Look at everything with a positive viewpoint. Praising God for the good and the bad. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." Romans 8:28 During times of hardship and distress we can rely on God for carrying us through and turning our situation for good. See the hard times as a learning, growing experience. Satan is trying to attack us but with God we have victory.

3. Cleaning up our diet, getting back to nature and eating what we were meant to from the beginning. ORGANIC. Primarily what comes from plants. The Bible mentions a few times, "Plant gardens and eat what they produce." One source, Jeremiah 29:5b.

4. We must continually be removing toxins from our bodies. Focusing on digestion is critical to get the nutrients you need as well as moving everything through the body. A good bowl movement after every big meal is necessary otherwise their is a blockage and it will affect your entire system. Sweat, enemas, reflexology, acupressure or acupuncture for good flow. Lots of good clean drinking water. Very important, seriously ill people need to focus on eliminating toxins!

5. Vitamins and minerals. Lacking one can cause an imbalance and a domino effect of issues. Health of eyes, skin, nails, hair are just a few parts that will show if you are lacking in some area. If digestion isn't strong then one may be unable to use the nutrients they are taking in, so again digestion is key.

6. Herbs are nature's natural prescriptions for our body, without the crazy long list of side effects like man made prescriptions. The Chinese are well aware of their numerous benefits and have used them for hundreds of years. There is something for all ailments. Some may very well be growing in your back yard.

7. Destressing, deep breathing, getting out in nature, walking, gardening, playing with animals, enjoying the beauty around you. This lifts your spirit, your mood and is healing emotionally as well as physically.

8. Good, quality sleep is needed to heal. Dark, no electronics, to bed as early as possible after the sun goes down. Thanking God for the day.

These are just the main points that stick out to me. All of them done together will greatly improve one's health. Healing is all about determination. Yes, God can do a healing miracle just by prayer alone, but a lot of times I think He wants us to take responsibility for our health and use what He has supplied around us. Many people have experienced their own healing journey in order to help others. I believe many of us have limited God for too long. Lets work WITH Him to make amazing things happen TODAY! Put your trust in Him and His amazing power.

Wishing you good health and happiness!

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 30:17a

Disclosure: I am not a doctor but have been on an extensive health journey, done lots of research

 and have experienced healing. I hope to empower others by sharing what has helped me and my daughter. 

My desire is for you and your family to feel well and enjoy life the way God intended. That is my purpose.

Holding on to the Past

So many times we tend to forget moments from our past OR we choose that we don't want to remember them. I know without taking photographs, I wouldn't remember a lot of things I saw/participated in. Life is busy, it is chaotic. Many times we are looking forward to what we need to get done in the next hour, the next day, the next week... So often we wish we had more time, to get more done. But when do we take the time to think about the past? If we look back we may very well find some beneficial information, something that will help our well being... something will strengthen us. I find that in the present age we are drifting away from what was, where the focus was on family, growing your own food and preparing it in your own home, natural ways of healing... When families were close, there was time spent together, talking to each other, passing down ways they did things, ways that worked well, what they learned so generations beyond could benefit from their experiences.

We don't watch regular tv in our house. Once a week we try to watch a family show together found on Roku. A few times we have watched Little House on the Prairie, a show I thoroughly enjoyed when I was little. After watching the first show I was surprised by how much tv has changed. I was impressed by the acknowledgement of God in the program plus the focus on family and relationships... something that is rare in television today. It made me think to passages in the Bible, from when God did amazing miracles right in front of the people and yet after a very short amount of time the people would forget, start complaining, wanting something else, something more. People were going after their own desires and not even caring if it hurt others around them. What happened to being thankful in the present, enjoying the very moment you are in because it is a blessing. This time is a gift. No matter where you find your self. You may be going through a trial, but their is a lesson that can be learned in it. You could be a blessing to someone else. God has given us time for a reason. It is up to us to make the most of it.

For the next week+ I will be setting aside my computer/technology for some quality family time and adventures. I am looking forward to getting out in nature and experiencing God's beauty around me. This space will be quiet for a bit but I promise to return... God willing. :)

I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Slow down a bit. Think back to good moments. Bring them with you to the future. Allow it to grow you and those around you. ...Life is but a breath. ~Psalm 39:5b

Stress ~ A Silent Killer

Eating healthy is only part of the solution to good health. There are other key factors beyond the physical body that need to be addressed. I have learned things I wish I would have known sooner, but in hindsight I can clearly see that life is a continuous journey of learning and all we can do is keep moving forward and doing our best to make progress. No matter what we are battling at this very moment, we have the choice to focus on the struggle before us or to look beyond and see the hope and the light that will surely come if we are patient. Relate the problem that you are dealing with to a terrible storm on the sea and a ship is trying to get back to land, but nothing can be seen ahead. Complete fear could strike with the enormous waves tossing the boat to and fro and heavy rains crashing down upon it. Such fright could make a person lose their course and their journey could end in tragedy. But another who is in the same position, could hold on to hope, they could have faith that somewhere in the distance a glimpse of light will be seen and safety will come. Determination and positivity will drive that person to safety no matter how rocky the journey is. It is our thoughts, our mind that is so powerful. But the more I think about it, it is the Spirit within us that is so powerful and it is this that carries us through and makes us stronger... if we allow it to.

When I was so sick, a doctor pointed out stress management to me, but didn't give any advice on dealing with it which was more frustrating. Now I know, in order to have health, you need to have a sound mind. My life dramatically changed once my thoughts moved to focus on positivity. When I was able to forgive people for the hurtful things they said/did to me I became freer. I found that the negativity I was holding onto was hurting myself more than anyone else. Now, when I look at a battle I am facing I dig into God's Word and read to see what answers He reveals to me. I have found I receive even more answers by simply talking and asking God for guidance directly, through prayer. ("Pray without ceasing." 1Thessalonians 5:17) The stress has lifted off of me. It took awhile for me to realize the stress was one of the main factors of my sickness! I was dwelling on the negative around me which caused me to respond negatively, which caused stress to compile... not the way to healing. It makes me think of the Bible verse where Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." So the more I thought negatively, the more I responded negatively which was actually a sin... and was a big reason why I needed God, to see and walk in His ways. This was and has been the way to healing for me, and it is the way to victory in whatever battle we find ourselves facing. We don't need to focus on the actual struggle in itself but look to the One who will give us victory to overcome. If we are alive we have hope and we are able to hold onto our faith and know that good will come.

God is our loving Father. He wants the best for us. He knows we will face trials, no matter where our faith is at. The thing is the stress, the struggles we face, are an opportunity to put our faith into action. It gives us time to draw nearer to God and to rely on Him to show us through our difficulty. If we didn't face hard times, I believe most of us would never turn completely to Him. I know this is true for me. I had to hit rock bottom physically and emotionally before I grabbed onto Him. It took getting to such a low point for my attention to be put on Him. Now I pray my focus will not change!

Dr. Charles Stanley is an amazing Christian speaker. I could listen to him for hours on YouTube. He has preached about God's Stress Remover and there being only one solution. Stress will continue to tear you down. Whether the conflict or distress is coming from family, friends, money problems, job, environmental factors it has the potential to eat away at you, slowly killing you. Stanley says many doctors are quick to give out prescription drugs, but the one real solution that works is a relationship with God, and I couldn't agree more! Stanley goes on to share that there is only one thing God created that He can have a personal relationship with and that is you and me. We are very special to Him and He wants to reveal His love for us. His desire is a relationship with us. This is where solitude comes in. We have to make time to be alone with God, to talk to Him. We can share what is on our thoughts, although He knows, He knows our desires, He knows everything about us. But we can definitely ask if He can help work out certain situations. We can praise Him for all the gifts He has given us. Once we start thinking of all the things we are blessed with it's kind of hard to even think of wanting more! At least that is where I find myself. The biggest thing about time alone with God is asking Him for guidance, direction in every area of our life. I think our journey would be a lot less complicated if we listened better to Him and allowed Him to be our guide. I know I wouldn't have messed so many things up in the past if God would have been my priority from the beginning and I would have listened! Live and learn...

Stanley pointed out that time with God isn't just reading the Bible. I think it's great to read and learn about Him and past events. The Word is full of inspiration and hope for situations we face today, but a personal relationship is needed. God is waiting and listening to hear from you. It is amazing when He answers! He is definitely worth your undivided attention! Something else that was good in Stanley's talk was that he gave 11 benefits of solitude with God... these were a few of the points that stood out to me:

1. Makes busy days much more fruitful.

2. God repairs the damage when we give Him time. We become free. He refuels us.

3. He equips us to face the tough days with confidence.

4. When we are searching for an answer, God will give us a crystal clear answer when we are listening!

5. Protects our health. He is our real physician, everyone else is practicing! (So true!)

To listen to the entire talk on God's Stress Remover, click HERE. 

Make time for God, stay positive & be blessed!

Infertility ~ Finding Peace in Mother's Day

I hope all you mamas had a wonderful Mother's Day this past Sunday. It was a beautiful day! In this post I will be opening up my heart once again, in hopes to encourage and uplift someone else who is struggling. Please understand I am not always happy with my previous choices but I have learned from them, and for that gained knowledge I am thankful, thankful for the entire journey. Being completely open and honest, for the past 5 years Mother's Day has been rather painful. Although I was blessed with one beautiful daughter, I was greatly struggling with secondary infertility and this day put more of a focus on what I considered to be a great weakness. I am sure many other ladies who are struggling with infertility or secondary infertility can relate. For some reason, many of us women are pretty good at picking out our own flaws. Sadly, sometimes we dwell on them. For me, for so long I dwelled on my infertility issues. I tried so hard to make things happen in my own power. My heart hurt so much because I felt I couldn't give my husband more children. My daughter was in tears on several occasions because she didn't have a sibling. I was filled with guilt. I wanted better for my family. I tried to take control of my life to make things happen in MY timing. Oh my goodness, how much I have learned since the beginning of my secondary infertility journey. For one, I am NOT in control and never will be. God is all powerful. What He wants to be will be. His will is above all. Second, I have made many mistakes in life. Some impacted my health greatly. Looking back I can see how the Lord was nudging me to change my diet to eat healthier food but instead I put my trust in doctors and chose medical intervention because they promised I should get pregnant soon after. You see, whatever I thought would give me another child I did even if it didn't feel quite right. Big mistake. God is the giver of such a miracle. He is the Creator of all. My focus was and is supposed to be on Him above all else. But I made having another child my idol. It is what I thought about all the time. I didn't realize it at the time, but the stress of it was eating away at me. I was getting sicker and sicker, and I believe my negative thoughts were the source. The third thing I have come to learn is God is all knowing. He knows what is best for us. He knows what our future holds. He wants us to be ready, but to be ready we have to learn certain things. He has unique challenges for each of us and we have the choice to allow Him to guide us through or to try our own way to overcome. Through personal experience I know quite well now that my own efforts get me no where or do me more harm. God is a good God, He is our Father who wants the best for us. I believe He truly wants all of His children to succeed in life. He puts desires in us to go after and I don't believe He wants us to give up on them. He wants us to overcome so we can bless others from what we have learned. The thing is, we have to realize we need Him to get through the many challenges we face. God desires a relationship with us first and foremost. If we don't face a challenge, we wouldn't see the need to ask God for help. Why would we need to rely on Him if everything always went our way? I admit, my relationship with God has taken a good amount of time to grow. But now I am so excited to spend time with Him on a daily basis, to just chat and see what He wants me to know and do. The things He has shown me is incredible and it shows me how thankful I can be in this great struggle of infertility. He has shown me not to give up hope, but instead to be patient and find joy in what surrounds me at this very moment. God showed me that from the very beginning Satan wanted to be in control; he wanted all the power and to have things his way. Satan didn't want to have God guide him and he sure didn't want to love him. (Selfish Satan!) Well God didn't want to MAKE him love Him. God doesn't want to make anyone love Him, He wants us to choose Him. God made everything good and perfect at the beginning, but from the beginning man was also given a very important choice to make. We could choose God's way or follow Satan's way which is full of self-seeking desires, stress, disaster, torment... The more I grow in faith the more I realize how great of a sinner I am and really what do I deserve? I deserve nothing. What have I done that is so great? What do I know that puts me above someone else, even God? When I changed my focus from not being able to have more children and put my focus on God and learning His ways, things have greatly changed. I have so much more joy. I have peace and hope. This past Mother's Day I felt more blessed than ever. I have an amazing husband who loves me. I have a cozy home that we worked hard on to make our own. We have good, nutritious food to eat; we have a comfy bed to sleep on at night. There is so much beauty right out our windows. Trees are filled with gorgeous blooms. Birds are singing in the trees. The grass is lush and green. Food is growing in the garden... all these things were given by God for us to enjoy! A gift from Him. I am thankful. Because what have I given Him in return? For so long I hadn't even given Him my love! Something that seems so simple, but can be rather hard to share... love. Jesus came to earth to do His Father's will. What did He do? He showed pure, unselfish love to everyone He came across and then He payed the ultimate price for us so we can be forgiven of our many sins. Wow! And all God wants in return is a relationship with us, one where we turn to Him to seek His advice before all else in every circumstance we face.

You can't give a young child a knife even if they beg to have one, right? We all know that would be irresponsible and could be very harmful. But after they grow and learn how to use one carefully then they are able to use one right? We know that the time will come when it will be safe for them to use. Well, God knows things about our future that we do not. We have lessons to learn before our time comes, maybe the time to get the desire of our heart. But to get to the point of whatever it is we are hoping for, we need to learn what God wants us to and He wants us to be joyful during the learning stage. If a child is constantly whining and complaining, the adult is a lot less likely to give them what they want right? What is different between God our Father and His children, you and me? I believe He wants us to look around and take notice of the many gifts He has already given us.

God has shown me through the infertility journey to not give up hoping for more children, His Word (in the Bible) clarifies it for me. Instead of trying to do everything I can in "my own power" to get pregnant, He wants me to seek Him and allow Him to teach me His valuable lessons so I will be ready for what He has in store for me. His Word says He wants to give us more than we can even imagine! That makes me excited because God stands by His word, unlike Satan. God wants us to be fruitful and to multiply. God loves children. He loves you and me. I am choosing God's way...

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~1Thessalonians 4:1

Hair Care Simplified

My hair at the end of the day. Nothing fancy, a bit windblown, but soft all thanks to two simple ingredients!

 When I was really struggling with my health, my doctor said I needed to stay away from gluten due to Celiac and I had to be aware of all ingredients in food as well as other products I used like cosmetics, toothpaste, haircare... Before I heard the words Celiac Disease, I had already been simplifying products and foods as much as I could. I was on a quest to get the most organic shampoo and conditioner I could find, but no matter what I tried I was having issues with buildup and a greasy feeling in the section behind my ears. Nothing I was trying was giving me the soft hair I was hoping for, until...

I got rid of all commercial hair care products and simply used baking soda (plus water) for my shampoo and plain white vinegar for my conditioner! At the time my husband could not stand the smell of vinegar so every so often I would go back to trying a purchased so called organic shampoo and conditioner, but after the first use, my hair felt greasy all over. I learned my lesson, these two simple ingredients are what works best for me (and my daughter). And my husband has gotten used to the smell. :)

How we wash our hair: [It is sometimes easier to have brushed hair before washing.] First I put about a tablespoon of baking soda in a small glass container. (I use an old glass vitamin bottle.) I have a separate glass container filled with vinegar. (I use a cleaned out glass ghee container.) Wet hair/scalp thoroughly. Then put some water in with the baking soda, guessing about 3T, I don't measure, you don't need to be precise, then with the cover on the bottle I give a few shakes and then pour it all over my scalp and massage it in. Wait a minute or two and then rinse it out. At this point you may feel the squeaky clean feeling, but if not don't worry; I feel it on my hair but not on my daughters when I wash hers, but in the end they both turn out soft and clean. After hair is well rinsed, tilt head back and slowly pour about 1/4 cup vinegar all over hair and scalp, all the way to the ends. Be careful not to get in eyes! And warning, it will be cold! Pull fingers through hair. Let sit for a few minutes. There will be no suds during any of this (that usually comes from harmful fillers). When the vinegar is on the hair, it will not feel smooth and silky. After waiting for a bit, rinse hair well. Dry and style as usual. Hair should be soft and clean! No more buildup and no toxic ingredients used! This does work on colored hair too. I just wouldn't do it immediately after dyeing hair, but definitely the day or two after.

When washing kids hair... I don't recommend using vinegar on real small children just because it is a cold liquid when it comes out and if it gets in the eyes it really burns. We put a big thick washcloth on K's back before pouring it on. Kaelyn does not like the cold factor but she has seen how soft it makes her hair and she likes that. I also believe vinegar is a good way to prevent lice! So far she hasn't picked up any nasty bugs and they were around in her classroom on more than one occasion. She is definitely more than happy to use it during those times! Her hair has to be brushed well before washing and at night we always braid so it makes for an easier morning and no crazy knots.

Have a wonderful weekend! Weather has been gorgeous here so I will be off working more on my garden. :)

Healing ~ It's in the Food!

{turkey and avocado on sprouted buckwheat groat bread}

Some days feel like I don't get much accomplished as a lot of time can be spent in the kitchen. When I started the Enduring Health Journey website my husband was pushing me to join instagram which inspired me to photograph the food I was cooking. I love capturing moments on camera so instagram has turned out to be a good fit for me. I hope I can inspire others to try eating some new, healthy meals. (You are welcome to follower me HERE.) Even if it is only me that looks at my account, I enjoy looking through the photos to see where my time goes... it is in preparing healthy meals that will nourish my body as well as my family's; it is in overall wellness. Kaelyn likes to push me to create new foods and I enjoy experimenting, especially when it turns out delicious! This statement makes me laugh, because not even five years ago, I disliked spending any time in the kitchen and didn't think I could cook anything! Vegetables were scarce in our house. So much has changed. I have grown, I have found foods my taste buds thoroughly enjoy, foods I would have never tried if it wasn't for my health spiraling downward. I now thank God every day for the food, and healing He has provided. We have found first hand how extremely important food is to one's well being. Please don't let anyone tell you differently, not even a medical doctor. Food IS the best medicine!

{warming bean stew}

I listened to the whole series of "The Truth About Cancer" by Ty Bollinger which was very good and informative. I was impressed by how many people and doctors he interviewed along with the wide distance he covered. Although the video is focused on the many ways to heal cancer naturally it really tells you how to heal pretty much any form of disease. I was pleasantly surprised that all my points I have listed on my Regaining Health page were talked about in the videos. They are all important steps to healing. I was also impressed by their spiritual stand... God is needed in order to heal, along with the food/herbs He has provided, this is the way to victory in health.

{chocolate ganache pie}

In other health news, the Food Revolution Summit starts tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to listening to as many of the speakers as I can over the next few days. Knowledge is power. You can go HERE to here Ty Bollinger and Ocean Robbins talk a little about it along with some other good health info.

Have a great weekend!

Beauty ~ Seeing the Positive

My daughter came home from school yesterday in a terrible mood, and when I asked her about it she started complaining about the weather and why did it have to be so rainy. She wanted a sunny day so she could play outside with friends. We had quite a long conversation about it. I explained that although she may not care for the weather at the moment, it is (for) good. Trees and plants need it to grow, animals to drink and bathe in... I remember watching the birds play in it after the last rainfall and it made me think, how many times do we want something but forget or pay no attention to what someone/something else needs. Sometimes we become so focused on ourselves we miss the beauty around us. Sure I really like warm, sunny days, but we need the rainy days too, so other things in this world can grow and become beautiful. If there wasn't rain there wouldn't be any rainbows, and I know my daughter loves rainbows as that is about all she drew for 3 years. :) In time I think she realized it wasn't such a bad day because of the weather. In every situation we face we are given the choice to look at it positively or negatively. With a positive view we will always search out the good, there is always something good, and this will keep us uplifted through our journey. I believe the good we find is one of God's ways to show His love for us, to brighten our spirit... He wants us to stay focused on the good, but it is up to us to find it, see it, feel it, hear it...

We woke up to another grey, wet morning. And as I was making breakfast I looked out the window and noticed the raindrops on the trees. I felt this prompting within to put breakfast aside, even though it takes a long time to prepare, and so I went and grabbed my coat and camera and headed outside to capture the beauty around me...

 

I felt it, God's love being revealed all around me. How many days go by that I don't notice these gifts, the beauty surrounding me? I let the busyness of my day take priority over seeing the details that God has laid out in plain view. Taking the time to see the beauty in what seems the simplest of forms is where joy can be found. I am so thankful I was given the urge to grab my camera this morning. It delights me to see what is captured, because even though I see things a certain way in real life, when I look back at the photos, take a closer look, I see even more beauty, and I sit in awe that this is all God's creation... and it is very good, it is beautiful!

During my Bible reading this morning I was brought to this verse:

"You have seen many things, but have paid no attention." Isaiah 42:20a

I pray that I will pay better attention to my surroundings...people, things. I don't want to miss the gifts.

Cancer is NOT a death sentence!

I was planning on sharing our simple, natural hair care involving shampoo and conditioning but I watched the first episode this morning of "The True History of Chemotherapy and The Pharmaceutical Monopoly" that was released last night and it pulled on my heart so much I have to share about this instead.

A health diagnosis, it is one thing that can truly cause fear to arise in a person. So often times we put our trust and faith in the doctors to heal us. I know I did. I figured, they were the expert, they knew best. But do they? My diagnosis was not cancer, but Graves Disease. I vividly remember the doctor and nurse telling me I needed to have my thyroid killed with radioactive iodine and the nurse said if I didn't act quickly I would become infertile for good. This scared me. I let myself get wrapped up in fear of not having any more children. I did what the doctor and nurse told me to do out of fear and what a big mistake that was! My faith and my knowledge on health and God was greatly lacking back then (almost seven years ago). I didn't realize that my fertility and well being layed in God's hands. His Word says I shall fear nothing but Him. God provides ways for the body to naturally heal itself via food, herbs and such, but we have to be aware of this information. Through the pain, heartache, suffering I have learned what really matters. I now know God comes first. That my trust goes to Him above all else and I have faith that He will guide me in my journey. Although I hadn't been given a cancer diagnosis I am pretty sure I was getting close... as Candida was taking over my body, my weight was spiraling downward and lumps were appearing... in my neck and my breast. At first I was truly scared. I didn't want to leave my daughter at such a young age. I wasn't ready for my life to be over. And on the way to yet another doctor's visit I was praying and I said, "God, I give this to YOU. I will/continue to eat the best I know how. I believe you will guide and heal me. I am putting my trust in YOU." And after visiting a couple new doctors, God confirmed to me that I didn't need to return to them, He would take care of me... and He did. The lumps are now gone. Praise the Lord! Anyway, this journey is what put the passion in me to share about God and the importance of the food and healing wonders He provides. I personally found that conventional medicine was making me worse. I am not saying there isn't a place and purpose for it, but people need to understand that sometimes there is a better way, a way that is provided by God that will not harm you. This brings me to the truth about cancer, episode 1.

The series was created by Ty Bollinger, who lost both his parents to cancer along with other family members. This heartbreaking experience put a passion in him to explore and find an explanation for so many deaths related to cancer. I have heard about many natural ways to heal from this nasty disease during my own research of healing the body, but Ty is bringing it out in the open in a new way, involving many non-conventional doctors around the world. He has put so much time, thought and research into the truth about cancer in hopes to set many people free. I pray you will listen to his series. The information may save your life or a loved ones.

Some of my main take away points from the first episode:
~1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer.
~Doctors receive very little to no training in nutrition.
~Modern medicine is drug focused, it was a monopoly created a long time ago based on making money, not on actual healing.
~Disease is a marketplace, it is an investment industry that focuses on growth and eliminating its competition.
~Chemotherapy is highly toxic and contains carcinogens which is cancer causing. The chemo eliminates the bad cells along with the good which heals.
~Doctors will often times lose their license if they offer natural methods for healing.
~Tumors can shrink, but will often times come back even worse than before because the stem cell becomes enriched.
~Chemo side effects multiply the drug business, due to causing more damage throughout the body.
~Most patients don't question their doctors, they trust them.
~Some doctors don't know the truth about the harm in the drugs they are offering, while others give fear tactics. Honesty is often thrown out the door as they want business. Business equals more money.
~100,000 people die yearly from "safe and effective drugs".
~Naturally grown, organic treatments that can be grown in your own yard won't make anyone rich so these treatments are not marketed.
~Various testimonies were given on healing without chemo/radiation. One man was given his cancer diagnosis at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and was told he would only survive 3 days to maybe 3 months. He wasn't okay with this diagnosis and headed to a non-conventional healing center down south. He is now going on 8 yrs and cancer free.
~Some people are backing out of the Pharmaceutical industry because they found that money is driving the decisions, not well being. They believe it shouldn't be about making share owners happy.

In short, lives are being put at risk for profit. It hurts my heart. Kids are losing their parents, parents are losing their kids... because someone is greedy?! Sickening. What we can do is learn all we can now. Put God first. Allow Him to guide us, because He is the one who can heal our land. God will judge everyone one day, and boy I would not want the guilt of putting money over someone's life!

Listen to all the details in the informative first episode here:
https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/agq/episode-1/

I'm looking forward to the future episodes involving more healing based on foods, herbs, essential oils, hormones... It will be good. Thank you Ty Bollinger for sharing this beneficial information with everyone!

Thankful for Good, Healthy Food!

It doesn't get much better than enjoying a delicious meal with family. Kaelyn looks forward to every single meal. What makes it even better is that we know we are eating items that are healthy for our bodies... God made, God given. Thankfully after omitting several foods (like all forms of grain, sweeteners and high starch vegetables) from our diet when we were cleansing our gut and healing from Candida, we were finally able to add several back in, and we couldn't be happier! The dish above is one of our family favorites. Organic brown basmati & wild rice with zucchini, organic carrots, onion, fresh garlic, ghee, freshly ground black pepper, sea salt, freshly ground cumin, chicken broth (or clean water or bone broth for cooking the rice in) and sometimes chucks of chicken. We hope we have inspired you to try it and that you and your family will enjoy it as much as we do.
I meant to get this post up this past Thursday, but I've been so busy in the kitchen, finally getting some of our favorite pantry staples listed on our websites Essentials Page, and then with regular work and happenings... I'm a bit behind.
Also, the first Enduring Health Journey newsletter was released last week!!! It was a bit lengthy, but since I am planning on just sharing them quarterly I wanted to share a good amount of information. Thank you so much to those who signed up and for the positive feedback I have received! It means so much! Also for those who have signed up after the first one went out I will be forwarding it to you so you don't miss out on anything. If you haven't signed up and would like to you can go to the bottom right of any of our Home pages and type in your name and email to get yours!

One more thing, since health and healing is so important to us, there is a new series coming out about cancer, ways to heal and prevent it naturally. Being that more and more people are getting the dreaded diagnosis, I think this would be beneficial for everyone to watch. It is free. I like to say, knowledge is power, so never stop learning... Click the link for more information:

https://go.thetruthaboutcancer.com/?ref=1cdaa8b6-6d81-4faf-b9b2-9faf3029ed55

Have a fabulous weekend!

Health, Happiness, Wellness... Tips from a 93 year old!

I would like to introduce you to my Grandma and Kaelyn's Great-Grandma. She is an amazing soul, and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. I treasure every moment we are able to spend with her, every moment my daughter gets to laugh and play with her. Looking at her life, at her experiences, her responses to situations, to the struggles she endured... I see her as a teacher. Her chosen actions and responses impact me, my daughter, and all around her... at times we didn't even realize it, she probably didn't realize. This all points to the amazing power of the Holy Spirit that works in each of us if we allow it. When we are open to the Spirit, others around us are moved in ways we can't always explain or know. We hold a power that is powerful within, that can do so much good in lives around us and even in our own. I've witnessed my grandma go through great pain, I saw her go through the loss of my Grandfather many years ago (which was actually the second husband she lost to death). I've seen her battle serious health issues, I've heard other stories of her great strength... and through it all, it is undeniable that her strength comes from the Lord. I can see how blessed she is and how she is such a blessing to those around her... or even many, many miles away to complete strangers. She is a giver. God is a giver. He works through her. God carried her through pain, to share a strength through her that couldn't have otherwise been shared. She was taught how to be independent in this world, but I believe she was also taught to be dependent on the Lord. I love watching my grandma. Sure she has had great hurts in the past, experienced pain, but she has always been carried through, and she always comes out with a renewed strength and a joy for life. Yes, she enjoys life... at 93 years old she is enjoying life! Lately when I stop by her house she is thrilled to be knitting again, blankets, scarves, nothing looks alike. She doesn't even know what's going to unfold. It's like watching a kid unwrap something they have been wishing for. You see pure delight in the eyes... it is priceless. I see God blessing her with joy. 

My grandma has many interests. She is not what many picture as an ordinary grandma who sits in a rocking chair all day. Of course she likes to do her fair share of reading, she loves a good book and has hundreds of them, but she moves around, she takes care of things in her big yard, she plants a big garden every year... a highlight of hers is growing flowers, and of course she likes to give many of them away during the warmer months. She's definitely the light to others around her. I pray that I will be like her, that my daughter will learn her ways, because really her way is the Lord's way. She is humble, she gives way more than what she gets in return, she chooses her words carefully, she plants a garden and eats what it produces, she prays and gives thanks, she takes care of herself, she is self controlled, she listens, she hugs, she loves...

No one that sees her out and about can guess her age. Many think she's in her 70's which always makes us laugh. To feel good and alive at her age, what a blessing! When I was little I never wanted to grow old. I always looked at aging as rather depressing and didn't see the joy that could be, but now through Grandma, I can see it, I can see the good. And I should have seen it through her mother who lived over a hundred and was doing so well. My Great-Grandma had also lived a good long life, was blessed by the Lord... but I learned even more from my Grandma as I have spent more time with her. Time, it is precious. It is a gift I am thankful for. I am thankful for the moments I am able to go to her house and pick her mind for more information on days past, on health, and overall wellness. I see the good that has come from her past experiences and I want to learn as much as I can from her in the time we have. In one of our afternoon chats I asked her a few questions that I could share with others, in hopes to inspire someone else... or even just myself. Here are a few of my questions with her answers:

What do you believe helped you to live a long, happy, healthy life?

Her response, not in order of importance...

1. Pray~unceasing and don't forget to thank God for all His many blessings.

2. Have numerous interests. Some of hers include: books, music, stamps, cooking, writing. (I have to add, she is the queen of word games/puzzles. Most of us don't stand a chance & don't even compete with her in Scrabble. Bananagrams we might get lucky if we tell her to use words we know.)

3. Strive to have a happy family and good friends.

4. Try to eat healthy.

5. Attend Bible classes and read the Bible daily.

[Some of this information has been updated: April 9, 2016] Due to my and Kaelyn's own health journey and seeing the importance of healthy food, I often ask Grandma what she eats and what she ate as a kid. Information has continued to grow in this area. So far she has shared that when growing up they would walk to a near by neighbor and get raw milk, then later on had some delivered. She likes her milk! They ate lots of eggs and homemade sauerkraut. They didn't have all the greens like we do today, like kale. And they didn't have cauliflower or broccoli. She remembers her mom giving her and her siblings cod liver oil and she hated it! Today she grinds up flax and walnuts regularly to put on her breakfast, along with 1 whole banana to keep her potassium levels good. She likes to juice in the summer and makes the yummiest apple juice from her own apples. She also has lots of her own asparagus in the warmer months. Her meal portions are always small and she chews well which is great for digestion! These were just a few of the healthy food tidbits that stood out to me from some of our conversations and simply by watching her.

Another question, What do you wish you had known at a much younger age?

She said, "How terribly important communication is, with parents, friends, family members, especially husbands and even acquaintances."

Grandma didn't include God in this answer but from looking at her life (and even looking at her previous answer) I can see that her communication with Him is strong, and has likely grown over the years. How I see it, communication builds strong, healthy relationships.

Last question, If you could change anything, what would it be?

Her response, "I'd listen more and talk less!" 

I had to laugh, because I don't see her as talking too much. If anything I want her to share more! She is like a wealth of information. Her experiences equal knowledge. She learned, she grew and now she shares. :)

We love you Grandma, Great-Grandma! Thank you for sharing your time with us! You are a treasure.

If you follow us on instagram you saw that these health books are on loan from Grandma. I'm excited to look through all of them! :)

Thankful Thursday ~ Sunsets

Beauty and blessings surround us everyday. Are we paying attention to these gifts? Sunsets... just one form of God's beautiful creation. I stand in awe of the colors, the glow, the rays... This gift uplifts my spirit; it is a moment that flees quickly, a moment that many have the opportunity to see but miss. I am thankful for this moment captured, to remind me of something bigger, greater and amazing. It is beyond me or any man... it is something that can not be recreated.

What are you thankful for today?

Candy Free Easter

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter celebration. This was our third or fourth year going completely candy free. With kids that may be kind of rare, but once we realized the allergies we were dealing with we decided we just didn't want to risk health. The good news is, no one misses the candy. Kaelyn still has so much fun. She gets a basket with goodies and she hunts Easter eggs but they are filled with coins. She loves saving up for things to purchase in the future. Egg dyeing is also a hit every year. She had a very memorable Easter celebration at the farm this year and it had nothing to do with candy. :)

Easter morning she was thrilled to find her basket and see what the contents were. She had been begging for a Bible like mine, one that is easier to understand and she got what she wished for but even better... it was pink! Mama almost had to get another one for herself! Ha!

She liked that the eggs had coins in them, but more than that she liked the search. She talked a few family members into hiding them so she could search again and again. Eggs could hold so many other things than coins or candy... we've done words in the eggs that she has to piece together to see what it says, you could also do puzzle pieces, small trinkets, beads, stones... Have you made the search creative? If so, we would love to hear about it.

Thankful Thursday

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life". John 3:16

I have started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and it is so good! This book reminds you to stop and think of how many blessings we have been given right now, in this very moment. Presently I am thankful for the beautiful sunshine pouring in through the window, the peace and quiet while Kaelyn is outside having fun with other children, for a warm and cozy home, for being able to design and create from home... there are just so many wonderful gifts. But there is one that exceeds all others and that is the gift of Jesus, given to all of us. Because of Him, salvation, forgiveness of sins, healing, power over evil and so much more is made possible. And we did what to deserve this? All I can say is, I am thankful, very thankful, and all I can do in return is praise God for all these gifts, because they can't be earned. They are freely given to me and to you. We are blessed. I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Newsletter... Breakfast Plus

The first Enduring Health Journey newsletter will be coming out towards the end of next week! Recipes, health tips and other inspiration will be included in each letter. Thank you to all those who have already signed up. We are looking forward to sharing more health info with you! This first quarters newsletter will contain some of our breakfast ideas along with the recipe of our favorite which is pictured above. If you are interested in signing up please go to the bottom right of any of the home pages HERE and type in your name and email. We hope you will be inspired. ♥

Uplifting Music ~ Ryan Stevenson

With the wide variety of music to choose from, what draws you in? What causes you to stay on a station and not click on? Is it the tone, the beat, the lyrics? For me the lyrics are important, what really pulls me in is if the message is something I can relate to. I remember in my college days I was all over the place with my music preference. My mood had a lot to do with what I was going to listen to, and often times I was not content until I found something that matched whatever I was dealing with. Sometimes I couldn't find anything going through the many stations available. Fast forward several years and I found Christian rock and surprisingly (or not) I was content with that kind of music... all the time. Sure not every Christian artist is my fave but the messages, the lyrics hit me in a way like nothing else had. I've been stuck on 96.5 and Christian music on Pandora for awhile now, and I know I won't find anything better.

My husband surprised me for our last wedding anniversary with Christian music concert tickets! We really had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be such an amazing experience! I could definitely take more nights like that with my man. :)

Ryan Stevenson was the opener for the night, and all I have to say is, words are powerful. His "Eye of the Storm" is one of my favorites. He is so easy to listen to and his messages are uplifting, filled with hope. Listen and enjoy HERE.

What are some of your favorite, uplifting songs to listen to. Feel free to share in the comments. I would love to hear!

Live Simply ~ Restoring Health

One of the key points to restoring our health has been to simplify. We've all heard the saying, "Less is more." But do we really stop to think how important that statement really is? When we first took our health into our own hands, food was our first priority. Hello ingredient labels. Every single item we picked up at a store, the ingredient list was read. If you have food allergies or have a family member with them you are probably aware of how important this task is. But everyone who suffers from not feeling their best should really start looking into what is actually in the foods they are eating. The fewer the ingredients the better. Make sure you know what the ingredients are. If it states something you haven't heard of you might not want to be eating it. And if there are artificial or GMO ingredients listed, put the box back on the shelf. Seriously, you don't want to be doing your body more harm! Another common saying, "You are what you eat." Are you junk? No. Do you eat junk? Well, if you do you might not be feeling so great and if you don't feel the repercussions now you most likely will sometime in the future. I know this very well. Oh how I loved to eat a LARGE bag of M&M's, plain or peanut... I was happy. I was also very happy eating an entire box of macaroni and cheese, and no, not the homemade, healthier version. I vividly remember my husband telling me how terrible the mac & cheese was, that it WAS NOT cheese! I paid no attention to him. I loved the taste, didn't feel bad when I ate it, so I ate a lot of it. Down the road I most definitely paid the price for how I treated my body. You could say I fed my body trash, and I was becoming what I was eating. I felt terrible!

So back to simplifying... we had to take steps. First my daughter and I made the move to what we thought was healthier, premade gluten, dairy, egg, nut free products in the health aisle. If it is in the health aisle it should be healthy, right? Not so much. Marketing friends, can be quite evil. Claims on a box, fancy packaging, commercials and such does not mean an item is good for you. Smart marketing means more sales and more money made. Being a graphic designer, I have worked in marketing. Its all about making something look good to make a sale, so beware of who's pocket you are filling. Is it someone who cares about your health? When our health was still failing, we had to look more seriously into what we were eating. Our food list was then simplified... a lot. Try an ingredient list with only one ingredient. Pure, nothing else added, certified organic... free of chemicals and other harmful substances... this was our healing food. This kind of food restores the body. A way to feel good and alive again... it is food simplified. Grow it, eat it. Buy meats/produce from a Farmers Market. Know where your food comes from. It's worth it to feel good, so do what you can to eat good. It makes a BIG difference!

Living simply doesn't end with food. Look at what's around you, what you put on your skin, what you use on your laundry, all your cleaning supplies... the environment that surrounds you. Less is more. Again, we made several changes. It took time, but we simplified and honestly it is quite freeing to be rid of so much... junk. I still need to work on simplifying clutter in my home but I'll get there... in time. Begin with one step. If I can do it, you can do it. My fridge is clean and only houses what we need for the week, healthy food. My shampoo is one ingredient. Same with my conditioner. I had no idea that two simple ingredients plus water could clean my hair so well. Our laundry detergent is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Our soaps are simplified. Our water is now filtered and free of contaminants. Yay! We have made so many changes and I will be sharing what we have done over the next few weeks. Be purposeful with a positive mindset to live simply, healthier and your entire body will thank you. Don't wait, start now.

Heavy on my heart... time... purpose.

I promise to share more health related posts as well as other sources of inspiration, but first I feel the need to share something that has been weighing heavily on my heart. It has to do with time. Time seems to flee so quickly. We are always rushing to do this or that. Before we know it the day has come to an end, and no matter if we accomplished all we set out to do, the day is finished... we close our eyes to hopefully be blessed with another day. When we look back at our day, how we spent our time, do we find purpose, or has it passed by in a blur with us not even really paying attention to what all happened. Were we thankful for the blessings that were poured upon us throughout the day? Or were we too busy to even notice... the blessings. Do we even think our day was a blessing? Anyone of us, or our loved ones could pass at any given moment. Are we thankful for the time we have, right now? For so long I have gone about my days, thinking I need to get this done, how I wish I had time to do that, praying for changes I wanted to see happen. Looking back I was focused on what I wanted. Sometimes I would get lost in the very things I wanted; wanting to control things to make certain situations happen, wanting to get certain things done to try to get ahead. But was I truly getting ahead? Was what I was spending my time doing, possibly meaningless? Time... it flees quickly. Are we making the most of it? We are given the choice of setting our priorities of what we will do and get done in a day. If we take the time to look at the greater picture, our entire day, everything we touch, see, taste, hear is a gift. Our time is a gift. If you believe in the Lord, you know where these gifts come from... God, the source of all good things. Knowing He is the giver, He is the Creator, are we taking time for Him? Are we praising Him for all He has given us? If we go out of our way to do something nice for someone else, don't we hope to get a thank you in return? We like to know the other person was touched, grateful for whatever we did, right? Otherwise we might start to think it was a waste of our time. Well, if God is constantly giving to us and never feels or sees any gratefulness from us, why would we expect Him to keep giving? Why is it we often need to be brought to desperation before we make the time to pray and talk to God. In actuality are we just demanding more from Him? It seems like it is usually in the hard times when we make it a point to cry out to Him for help, but why should He listen when He was never given any time beforehand? God, the Creator of all, has left us one very important tool, a book that shows us all how to live the very best life possible. If we turn to Him, put our focus on Him, He promises to heal our land... not in the future, but now. I challenge you to read the Bible for yourself. His promises are huge, powerful... life changing. And I feel bad I haven't taken the time to get to know Him better before. But now I am thankful because he has given me more time, to understand Him, His ways... directly and through His word via the Bible. Making time for Him daily, praying, reading His word, allowing Him to guide me has changed me. He is making me better on so many different levels. I want this so bad for everyone. God is the only way to a better life and it is possible for everyone who makes time for Him. We are His children, He loves us no matter what, but His great desire is for us to love Him in return, but in order for us to do that, we need to take the time for Him, to get to know Him, to build a relationship with Him, where in the end we fall in love with Him with our whole heart, we see Him clearly for all He has done for us. Jesus died to give us more than salvation. He died to free us. He took the curse from us on the cross. He wants us to know ALL things are truly possible for us NOW because he blessed us with the Holy Spirit to dwell in each believer. Hello power! It is right there, in me, in YOU waiting to be used! I believe He truly wants the very best for each and every one of us, but are we taking the time to find out what that is, where He wants to guide us? This is where our purpose will be found. This is were we will be fulfilled... through Him. I pray you will take time for Him every day. It is a choice to be made by you. I know I have become thankful for all the gifts God has given me, big and small, the beauty that surrounds me, health, family, home, good food.... I know He answers prayers, I want Him to always answer me, so I am determined to set aside time for Him and to praise Him for all His good gifts, that I am so undeserving of.

Action Plan:
If you are an unbeliever/atheist I encourage you to reconsider, to do research for yourself. I suggest learning about C.S. Lewis and his findings. I think that if you want hope of better things to come you can find it if you search. Knowledge is powerful. Learn all you can and be open to the words found in the Bible. See if it speaks to you... it could be life changing.

The Bible: This is a very important book. You could call it a map for your life. There are even treasures to be found within, but only by you, by reading it yourself. There are so many different Bibles out there, you have to find one that is easy for YOU to understand. I was surprised how much my daughter's Bible differed from my own. Even though hers was a kids addition, it was hard to understand. Who wants to read something that is difficult? You won't be able to get much out of it if the wording isn't clear to you. I love mine. It is the New International Version Holy Bible with Helps, Words of Christ in Red Letter, by Zondervan. It is the easiest one I have found to understand and be true. I am sure there are many other great ones.

Make Time: Try setting aside atleast 10 minutes a day to pray and read the Bible. Maybe read the Bible for 10 minutes and pray while you are driving, taking a shower, doing dishes. Pray continually throughout your day. God is always listening and enjoys hearing from you. Making time to read the Bible may be more difficult, but I bet you can if you truly want to make Him a priority. Take time out from watching t.v. or from using the many forms of technology... iPad, iPod, computer, facebook, instagram, twitter, texting..., games, magazines, other reading material... you can always find time if you want to. You can even read the Bible with your child before bed... just a few suggestions.

Have Fun! Enjoy your journey while learning about God. Praise Him for the good you see in your day or through His word. A thankful heart is a joyful heart. I don't know about you, but I would much rather choose joy rather than any kind of stress/pain/hurt. Joy is healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Always remember, you are blessed!