HEALTH Archives • Page 36 of 56 • New Nostalgia

Being Made New And Beautiful

{push play, then click through to YouTube. It is worth it}

Our worship leader in church today lead us in prayer. In the middle of the prayer, she said “Lord, you make us beautiful.” This song above, “Beautiful Things,” immediately came to mind and it has been on repeat in my brain all day. It is a favorite of mine. Its words go perfectly with a reading I have found lately that has also been on my brain. I thought I’d share them with you:

From Jesus Calling:

As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of worrying about what you should do if…or when… you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go.

Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well worn paths of routine.

I, the Creator of the universe, am the most Creative Being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know. Stay in communication with Me. Follow My guiding Presence.

______________________________

I love that my Creator does not “leave me circling in deeply rutted paths” but “leads along fresh trails of adventure.” As He does this, He guides me, changes me, grows me. Sometimes it is painful, change often is. Refining often comes through fire, and oh, how uncomfortable it can be!

Malachi 3:3

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..

A good refiner never leaves the crucible but, as the above verse indicates, “will sit” down by it so the fire will not become even one degree too hot and possible harm the metal. And as soon as he skims the last bit of dross from the surface and sees his face reflected in the pure metal, he extinguishes the fire.

Arthur Tappan Peirson

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Beauty/ Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME

5 Reasons Why You Should Dry Brush Your Skin

Why Dry Brush

1. It softens the skin.
I remember taking a facial class (I’m a cosmetologist), where the instructor had been an esthetician for 15 years. She told us about dry brushing and had us each come up and feel the skin on her arm. She was in her 50’s, but her skin was as soft as a babies butt! I was amazed. She gave all the credit to dry brushing daily.

2. It is a simplistic, inexpensive approach to healthier skin
I love that you can gain great results without expensive potions and treatments.

3. It stimulates the lymphatic system.
After my cancer treatment, I saw a physical therapist who did lymphatic drainage massage on me to help prevent lymphedema. I was intrigued by how gently she massaged, sweeping soft strokes across my skin, all towards the heart. This was my first experience with lymphatic massage and I was always amazed at how I needed to immediately use the restroom after lymphatic drainage massage. My therapist said that was a great indication that she had done her job, stimulating lymph fluid to be released. She suggested I dry brush at home, in the same manner, to continue to keep my lymph canals to drain properly, which is detoxifying to the body.

4. It helps with ingrown hairs.
No more razor burn bumps or ingrown hair bumps. The combination of dry brushing and shaving with a good, natural soap was the answer for me.

5. It sloughs off dead skin.

I used to struggle with small bumps on the back of my arms and on my legs. Not anymore. Dry brushing and again, using a natural soap from my local health food store did the trick. Makes me happy!

6. It feels good!
It is amazing how good it feels to dry brush skin. Especially if you have itchy, dry skin. It is great early in the morning right before my shower..it helps wake me up!

How To Dry Brush:

1. Purchase a natural bristle brush. Not synthetic. Ideally with a long handle.

2. Perform dry brushing before your shower while dry and naked (or nudie, as my girls say)

3. Work in long, upward strokes toward the heart.

4. Use whatever pressure is most comfortable for you.

5. Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken

6. After dry brushing your skin, rinse off in the shower.

7. Don’t forget to wash your brush using soap and water once a week. Hang to dry.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

Living Like I’m Dying & A Health Update

I heard this song in the car today, on the way to the doctors office.

Ready for confession time?

The last 2 days I have been holding a grudge against someone I love dearly, because I was hurt by them. Instead of lovingly communicating and talking it out, I just wallowed in my hurt and decided I was mad. Now granted, I have not felt great, physically, the past few days (I will get to why in a moment), but I’ve learned that physical pain is no excuse to treat someone with disregard, creating emotional pain for everyone involved.

This song spoke to my heart, a great reminder of what cancer has taught me this past year–we all need to live like we are dying. “86,400 seconds” is all we have in each day, and every second counts! I don’t want to be wasteful with my moments.

After a long discussion with a doctor today, I left his office and again, started thinking of the importance of this song.

I have been having stomach pain the last week. It is in the evenings, and there have been 2 nights where I thought I may have to go to the emergency room if it didn’t let up. They are checking my gallbladder for stones with an ultrasound tomorrow. They are also going to check my stomach lining next week.

This is the test that has me a little nervous. Women with lobular breast cancer are more likely to get ovarian and gastric (stomach) cancer metastasis. I just had a dear friend die from stomach cancer. I’ve seen firsthand what what would be in store. Facing reality, I know that could be me.

Despite this reality, I have a peace. A peace that “passes all understanding.” (Phil. 4:7) I know, KNOW there is a perfect plan for my life, no matter how long or short it is. I KNOW God has me in the palm of His hand, and nothing can separate me from His love. This makes me think of my favorite Bible verse:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

This peace, this unending love from my Creator, allows me..frees me.. to live like I’m dying. To release hurt, to come out from “hiding behind skin that’s too tough,” to say I love you enough. To admit fault, wrongdoing. To ask for forgiveness and to forgive. To let go of “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda” and live like I shall, can and will.

To take the 86,400 seconds in a day and be present in them.

Won’t you join me?

“Live Like We’re Dying”
by cutie Chris Allen 🙂
Sometimes we fall down, can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would’ve done

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that’s ticking
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution,
There’ll no one on the line, yeah

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

You never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash till it’s head on
Why do we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying..

Drinks/ HEALTH/ Healthy Eating

5 Reasons To Drink Lemon Water In The Morning

Number 1

It balances pH–Lemon is an acidic food, but once metabolized, it becomes alkaline. I work very hard at keeping my body alkaline. Why?

To put it most simply, alkalies help keep the oxygen in our blood at a safe pH level, and this helps our body heal itself, assimilate nutrients and fight off unwanted sickness.

-Nicole Bennet

I have read of many people who have fought their cancer nutritionally by focusing on the body’s pH levels. Kris Carr, of Crazy Sexy Cancer has halted tumors growing in her liver for over 7 years by focusing on nutrition, including alkalizing foods. I think that is crazy cool. Even a little crazy sexy cool!

I regularly check the pH of my body using these little pH strips. I now know what foods –GREENS!–will keep my levels where they need to be. I also believe lemon water helps this process.

Number 2

It keeps skin clear and glowing! I have noticed this. Hydration from drinking lemon water is great for moisturizing our skin from the inside out. Lemon also contains lots of Vitamin C, which helps with wrinkles and blemishes.

Number 3

It kick starts the digestive system–a big glass of lemon water is a great way to start the day. It encourages the liver to produce bile which in turn aids in digestion. It increases urination which helps purify it. It also helps with heartburn and constipation.

Number 4

It helps with weight loss–I have read that keeping the body in an alkaline state helps people lose weight faster. Lemons are high in fiber pectin, which helps keep one full, longer. They also have a diuretic effect, which helps with water weight gain.

Number 5

It helps control the coffee habit–I will drink coffee sometimes, but only if I have had my entire glass of lemon water. Many days I feel like the lemon water wakes me up more than coffee does…

…which brings me to bonus Number 6:

It helps kick the pop habit--I have found that adding lemon to sparkling water and adding a whole lot of ice satisfies any soda craving I might have. I gave up soda pop the minute I was diagnosed a year ago, and I really don’t miss it. I don’t think I could stand the sweetness of it now, but I DO miss the fizz, so my “Lemon Spritzer”–lemon +sparkling water+ice–is the perfect solution!

My mom gave me this lemon press. I just love it. I think it is cute so it stays out on my counter top, on display, which is perfect since it is used every morning.

I use 1/2 lemon, add ice to a 24 ounce mason jar, and add water to the top.

So easy fun and easy to use!

I save the second half for a refreshing “Lemon Spritzer” (see #6) later in the day.

When I pour freshly squeezed lemon juice over ice, I get the same feeling one might get when popping the top of their pop can and fizz leaks out, Ahhh…. or maybe the same feeling of the champagne cork popping? Ok..maybe not THAT good…

My lemon press is super easy to clean. I just the remove the metal and rinse.

*Tip..use a straw to keep the acidic lemon off your teeth. Remember, it is acidic until digested, then it turns alkaline.

I am not sure where you can get a press exactly like mine. Like I said, my mom bought it for me, it might have even been from a thrift store.

Thanks to your comments below, I am now saving my pennies for these beauties!

Endurance Stainless Steel Drink Staws (Set of 4)

These glass straws are strong, durable, and GORGEOUS.

They offer several sizes, I love that the 12mm will make my daily green smoothie sipping much easier!

The also offer bead free, if you prefer plain glass.

Glass Dharma Set of 4 Simple Elegance 12mm x 8″ drinking straws with cleaning brush

________________________

Health Update

Remember the implant I told you about? The one that was slowly migrating south and ignored my whispered pleas to stay put? Well, it had to pay for its rebellion and has been replaced with a brand, spankin’ new one. This exchange happened yesterday and surgery went really well.

I was completely covered in prayer, I know this by your comments here and my guestbook comments at my Caring Bridge site. Boy, did I feel those prayers! I woke up in the morning with no apprehension, and had complete peace and even joy all day. Such a crazy feeling. So very cool.

My Todd, Mom & Dad all kept me company before surgery. My loves.

It was all so familiar:

blood drawn in arm, I.V. in hand, paper gown, silly socks, silly hat, sexy compression stockings, a bazillion questions and signatures, kind nurses, capable doctors, sweet anesthesiologist, a ride to the surgical suite, a transfer to the surgical table, arms stretched out and strapped down, my body in the shape of the cross that brought thoughts of my Jesus, drugs to bring a deep sleep, the question “are you feeling that yet?”, asleep and awake before I can answer, a moan from me, a question from her “how is your pain?,” my not- so- familiar answer

“I have none.”

This was the first time I woke from surgery and didn’t need any morphine or additional I.V. pain meds. How cool is that? After crackers and apple juice, my mom helped me dress and before I know it we are on our way. We stop at Bread & Cup for a vegetable soup and sandwich to bring home. My mom made her famous Sloppy Joes which delighted my kids who ate 2 sandwiches each! My mother-in-law, who saw my girls out to and in from school, joined us. She then gave my girls a ride to a skating party, and I was left in a quiet house to rest.

Really… a great day. How strange. Sometimes God is. I love it when He takes something that one might usually dread, mix in His supernatural peace and gifts, and makes it something beautiful. You asked Him this for me and He answered “Yes.”

Right now it is 3 a.m. and sleep just won’t come. My throat is sore and I feel like I was punched super duper hard in the chest. They cut through my chest muscle and stitched ‘myself to myself’ to create a new “fold,” so I am quite swollen and sore. Ice packs help. It is only painful when I move, so I am practicing stillness. This physical stillness brings on a beautiful spiritual stillness. I am being still and knowing that God Is.

God is God.

God is great

God is present.

God is good.

God is love.

God is always.

God is.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH

Surgery Tomorrow

I had a fun, witty, informative post written about my surgery tomorrow.

And then, I was interrupted…for like the 18th time…and somehow it was deleted. It is one of those nights where the word “MOM!” has been said one too many times, and I need to get my needy punkins into bed. (Dad is working late at a volunteer training)

SOOOO….

Here are to-the-point details..ready?

Surgery tomorrow morning 10:30 at Methodist Outpatient in Omaha.

Implant exchange and internal sling revision, to fix an implant that does not want to stay “up.” (That explanation was so much more fun and interesting in my last writing.)

{sigh}

I am ready. I am tired. I wore myself out preparing to be useless for a week.

I really am doing better than I sound. Really. Just in a bit of a sarcastic mood..

I’m ready to do this thing!!

Bring on the I.V., the gown that I freeze in, the cup to pee in! I’m ready to count backwards from 10, to be asked if I’m ready take a nap, to sign the papers that state that I understand there is a very small possibility that I may not wake up from that “nap”. {Slightly disturbing}

C’mon silly “one-size-fits-all” socks, blood pressure cuff that is on auto squeeze, bed on wheels, bright blinding surgical lights, masked surgical team that may be smiling at me but who knows?

I got my prescription anti-nausea patch to stick behind my ear—the one whose price made me nauseous. I got my pain pills that constipate me, my anti-constipation pills, my antibiotics to ward off any infection and my hibacleanse to shower with tonight. I’m stuffing myself full of food and drink because cut off- time is at midnight.

I am ready.

I am ready, surgery number 5. Let’s do this exchange!

Love/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

I Am Remade

Is there someone in your life that hurls accusations at you? That won’t forgive your shortcomings? That reminds you on a consistent basis where you are failing? Who points fingers at you, making you feel like everything bad that happens in life is your fault? Who makes you feel like you have done something wrong when you have not? Or, when you have messed up, keeps holding up a mirror forcing you to stare at what you have already confessed?

Is that someone you? Is that someone you love dearly?

Whether or not it is another person or your own self- talk, accusations are meant to destroy. I believe they ultimately come from the one whom all evil flows– Satan, the Accuser.

From “A Confident Heart” by Renee Swope:

God’s spirit will convict you, but His heart will never condemn you. How do we know whether what we are experiencing is condemnation that comes from the Accuser, or the voice of conviction that comes from God?

Condemnation sweeps across our thoughts with generalized statements- “Your such a failure,” “Your so hypocritical,” etc. When it is the Accuser, the tone is condemning, questioning and confusing. It leads to guilt and shame.

Conviction that comes from God will be specific. It reveals a sinful action and attitude and instructs us on what we need to do to right the wrong. He’ll give us steps to take to change behavior or attitude.

~Instead of Your such a failure as a [wife, mom, daughter, friend], the Spirit might say, You were really critical the way you talked to _______. (your husband, child, parent, etc.). you need to say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness. Then tell them something that will build them up instead of tearing them down.

~Instead of You’re so hypocritical, the Spirit might say, You judge others for gossiping, but you are doing the same thing when you talk about your neighbor are at work. Tomorrow at lunch break, apologize for what you said and share a few things that are positive about her.

God uses conviction lovingly, to show us our sin and lead our hearts to repentance.

–Renee Swope “A Confident Heart”

A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Live in the Security of God’s Promises

We’ve got to get our “good enough” from Jesus. When we belong to Him, we’re clothed in His righteousness, forever beloved and accepted; a constant recipient of His steadfast love and grace.

–Gary Morland

My prayer:

Lord, thank you for remaking me. Thank you for a love that is patient, is kind and keeps no record of my wrongs. I trust your perfect love for me and I know that because of that perfect love I don’t need to be. I will remain in your love and I will be confident of this: that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus!

The video above is powerful. The song is a favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy.

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North

There’s a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she’s wandered
And the shame she can’t hide

She says, “How did I get here?
I’m not who I once was.
And I’m crippled by the fear
That I’ve fallen too far to love”

But don’t you know who you are,
What’s been done for you?
Yeah don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she’s been given new life
But she can’t shake the feeling
That it’s not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she’s rehearsed all the lines
And so she’ll try to do better
But then she’s too weak to try

But don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.

‘Cause this is not about what you’ve done,
But what’s been done for you.
This is not about where you’ve been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.

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