Thursday, April 30, 2009

Staying Calm


Each day as our Spirit is being housed in the flesh, the number of experiences that come our way to give us opportunities to see how we will respond, probably seem to be multiplying on a daily basis. Listening to the radio, watching TV, or reading the newspaper filled with alarming headlines, is enough to send us into a high state of anxiety or panic.

This morning Dr. Mercola came out with an article on the recent swine flu that is worth reading to help us look at this from another perspective, and not allow our Fears to drive our Spirit.

The article gave some recommendations on what we can do to help our immune systems at this time.

Please read:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx

Here is an excerpt from the article.......


How to Protect Yourself Without Dangerous Drugs and Vaccinations

For now, my point is that there are always going to be threats of flu pandemics, real or created, and there will always be potentially toxic vaccines that are peddled as the solution. But you can break free of that whole drug-solution trap by following some natural health principles.

I have not caught a flu in over two decades, and you can avoid it too, without getting vaccinated, by following these simple guidelines, which will keep your immune system in optimal working order so that you"re far less likely to acquire the infection to begin with.

Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I"ve previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu -- not the flu virus itself.

This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take. I would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng.ml and done by a reliable vitamin D lab like Lab Corp.

For those of you in the US we hope to launch a vitamin D testing service through Lab Corp that allows you to have your vitamin D levels checked at your local blood drawing facility, and relatively inexpensively. We hope to offer this service by June 2009.

If you are coming down with flu like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. Some researchers like Dr. Cannell, believe the dose could even be as high as 1000 units per pound of body weight for three days.

However, most of Dr. Cannell"s work was with seasonal and not pandemic flu. If your body has never been exposed to the antigens there is chance that the vitamin D might not work. However the best bet is to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D around 60 ng/ml.

BUT to keep this in perspective the regular flu, not the swine flu, has killed 13,000 in the US since January. But there is strong support that these types of figures are grossly exaggerated to increase vaccine sales. However, the fact remains that the regular flu at this point in time is FAR more dangerous than the swine flu and were you worried about the regular flu before the media started talking this up?

Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately, and as you likely know, a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice.

Get Enough Rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you"re tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. Be sure to check out my article Guide to a Good Night"s Sleep for some great tips to help you get quality rest.

Have Effective Tools to Address Stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.

If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using an energy psychology tool such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma. You can check out my free, 25-page EFT manual for some guidelines on how to perform EFT.
http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse1.htm

Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. You can review my exercise guidelines for some great tips on how to get started.

Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats like Krill Oil. Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in krill oil, which is crucial for maintaining health. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils that are trans fats and in processed foods as it will seriously damage your immune response.

Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don"t use antibacterial soap for this -- antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.

Eat Garlic Regularly. Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. And unlike with antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use. However, if you are allergic or don"t enjoy garlic it would be best to avoid as it will likely cause more harm than good.

Avoid Hospitals and Vaccines. In this particular case, I"d also recommend you stay away from hospitals unless you"re having an emergency, as hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds, and could be one of the likeliest places you could be exposed to this new bug. Vaccines will not be available for six months at the minimum but when available they will be ineffective and can lead to crippling paralysis like Guillain-Barré Syndrome just as it did in the 70s.

(Now go out and play and enjoy the sunshine :-)) !!!!
Kristie

Friday, April 24, 2009

Friday Update


My friends and family, thank you for your prayers and all your reaching out. I am quiet I admit. I am a bit distant, I know.

Please forgive me, it’s a lot for me to process. I will tell you this. I am surrendering to the fullest. I thought I’ve done this, but He keeps bringing me to my knees again and again.

I am grateful to want to know Him even more. I am surrendering -- and crying out to my friend, Jesus. Cry out to Jesus by Third Day is the song that I used to get through my divorce most days. Again it proves true---just need to call on Jesus for any situation.

One highlight that I thought I’d share is while writing this blog, my son William was listening to this song by Third Day and raised both his arms in the air and points his fingers toward heaven. He does this often now when he listens to our Christian music – he says, “Mommy we raise your hands to praise God!” Amen, William. Amen my sweet boy.

Amen for our new church, Appleton Alliance and the impact it has had on me and my children. Anna and William listen to praise music all the time and if ever interested in the story of Jesus’ suffering for us and how he shed is blood for us—just ask Anna. She told her friends at pre-school, “You should believe in him, he saved you from all your sins when he died on the cross.” My suffering is barely worth mentioning now that I reflect on this compared to our Lord, Jesus Christ did for us. Good night friends and family. In His name alone.

Love, Claudine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4&feature=related

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Claudine's Update

Dear friends and family,

My wait is over. The test results are positive. At this point all I can say is – please keep me in your prayers. I am an internal processor, so at this time I need more time to think, to pray. I am sad. I am scared. I am overwhelmed. The feelings are something I can’t share at this moment. It is time for some serious prayer. A friend sent the below to me and I will share some of her words and a Psalm. It right now is the best words I can find.

I’m not sure what to say, “I’m sorry” doesn’t necessarily cut it, and in light of God’s sovereignty, it may not be appropriate either.

So, I just want to say, that we are here for you to lean on, pray with, cry together when needed, and to walk with you through this journey. But more than anything, we’re here to love you unconditionally. I cannot imagine the thoughts that are going through your mind, especially when thinking of your beautiful children.

I just want to encourage you to walk faithfully with our God, to beat at his chest, and to find comfort and peace as you seek to understand Him in these trials. If I may, I would like to share with you Psalm 139 and hope that for the time being, it will remind you of who He is and how much He loves you AND your children.

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen.

Love, Claudine

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Things are not always what they appear to be!

Another Dream Comes True

Susan Boyle - (Things are not always what they appear to be...)

Dreams Do Come True



It's been quiet from Claudine, so until there is more news to report, I saw these unique videos and felt this beautiful talent of God's gifts given to these amazing individuals should be shared.
Love Auntie

Friday, April 10, 2009

Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

It doesn't appear these people are going to miss the train.......! Happy Easter!