Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Truisms

1) Don't let your worries get the best of you ... remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
2) Some people are kind, polite, and sweet spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
3) Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.
4) It is easier to preach ten sermons, than it is to live one.
5) The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close. ( I think I would add cock roaches.)
6) When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
7) People are funny ... they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
8) Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
9) Quit griping about your church ... if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
10) If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has! .
11) Some minds are like concrete ... thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
12) Peace starts with a smile.
13) I don't know why some people change churches ... what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
14) A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
15) We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
16) Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
17) Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
18) Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
19) Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
20) Forbidden fruits create many jams.
21) God doesn't call the qualified ... He qualifies the called.
22) God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts."
23) God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
24) He who angers you ... controls you.
25) If God is your Co-pilot ... swap seats.
26) Don't give God instructions ... just report for duty.
27) The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
28) The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
29) We don't change the message ... the message changes us.
30) You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
31) The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

I got this in email from a friend and thought you would like it. I'm busy working on my taxes, so if I don't reply or visit your blogs for a few days, it's because I'm knee deep in papers.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

THIS ONE IS PRICELESS

Some people understand life better, And they call some of these people "retarded"...At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,"This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes . People who were there are still telling the story... Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle" Friends Make The World Go Round.

A friend of mine emailed this to me last week and it has been floating around in my mind ever since. We can be a light to so many by just turning around and helping others. The Lord will bless us when we do.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Exercise and Diet Lower High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure has two components: the higher systolic when your heart contracts, and the lower diastolic when your heart relaxes. You have high blood pressure when your systolic
is above 120 or your diastolic is above 80. Ninety-one percent of Americans will eventually develop high blood pressure, which increases their risk for heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, kidney damage and other blood vessel disease.Doctors do not diagnose high blood pressure with a single reading because some people have reactive hypertension that is not as dangerous as persistent hypertension. If you get one high reading in your doctor’s office, check your own blood pressure daily and chart the results. You can use the self-test stations that are available in many pharmacies, or buy your own blood pressure cuff for about fifty dollars.

Healthy people have their blood pressures drop in the evening. The person at highest risk for heart attacks and strokes is the one whose high blood pressure does not drop in the evening. If your blood pressure is above 120/80 consistently, particularly in the evening, you have high blood pressure and are at significant risk for serious disease. Check back with your doctor who will usually evaluate you for other risk factors for a heart attack and may prescribe drugs. Whether or not you take medication, you can improve blood pressure with lifestyle changes: diet and exercise. More than 80 percent of hypertensive Americans can bring their blood pressures to normal within a few weeks just by following a diet that emphasizes fruits, egetables, whole grains, beans and other seeds (the DASH diet; see
http://www.drmirkin.com/heart/8614.html )

A recent study confirms that exercising regularly lowers blood pressure to prevent heart attacks and strokes (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, August 2005). The researchers
showed that you can lower high blood pressure on the first day of vigorous exercise. However, if you are out of shape, a single bout of intense exercise can cause a heart attack. Check with
your doctor, then get a personal trainer or join a health club and learn how to begin a safe and effective exercise program.

I got this information from Dr. Gabe Mirkin at: www.drmirkin.com If you would like to get a weekly email of your own go to: mailto:subscribe@drmirkin.com and subscribe. I really do enjoy the health tips that Dr. Mirkin gives. His wife is the cook in the family and she has tons of healthy recipes to share. Go take a look.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Apple/Oatmeal Scotchies Pan Cookies

Recipe By : Real Food for Real People
Serving Size : 36 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Cookies Low-Cal/FatAmount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

1 cup Flour
1 cup Quick-Cooking Oats
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 cup Applesauce
3/4 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Brown Sugar -- packed
3 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
12 ounces Butterscotch Chips
1/2 cup Raisins -- boiled (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a small bowl, mix flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix applesauce, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Beat with electric mixers until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in oats, raisins and chips with a wooden spoon.
Spread into greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan.
Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Cool, then cut into 36 squares.
*For 15 x 10 x 3/4 inch pan, omit baking soda.

Recipe by Kaylin at Real Food For Real People

Note from Lucy: I like adding a handful of chopped walnuts to the recipe. Do not over bake.

Check out the Real Food For Real People daily mailing for recipes. http://realfood4realpeople.com/read.htm I get some of my best recipes from this site. One time I was looking for some bean recipes and I submitted a request. People were sending in recipes for beans for three days and I got some wonderful recipes. Today: Feb. 24 th. people have submitted ham and rice cassaroles and several ranch dressings recipes. Go take a look.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE

"Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. The pain in the jaw happened to me and woke me from a sound sleep. I was one of the fortunate ones. Trust me when I tell you it's pain unlike anything you've ever experienced before. Given a choice between natural child birth and a heart attack, pain-wise; it's much easier to have a baby. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survived... A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this... It could save your life!! Let's say it's 6:15 PM and you're driving home (alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the job. You're tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

"HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE":
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!! "
Thanks Steve Sanders for this information! I will take note.

Another friend of mine told me that if I ever had signs of a heart attack to take, as soon as possible, an Aspirin, a Vit. C tablet and a Vit. E tablet. She has had several strokes and mild heart attacks and her doctor told her to do this. It will help stop the attack and lessen the damage. I hope that if any thing like this ever happens to me, that I will remember to do these things. Maybe I should keep a little pill box, with these three items, in my purse...

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Some old blond jokes.

BLONDE LOGIC - Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting on a bench talking.......and one blonde says to the other, "Which do you think is farther away...Florida or the moon?"The other blonde turns and says "Helloooooooooo, can you see Florida..?????"

SPEEDING TICKET - A police officer stops a blonde for speeding and asks her very nicely if he could see her license. She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys would get your act together. Just yesterday, you take away my license and then today you expect me to show it to you!!!"

RIVER WALK - There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank. "Yoo-hoo!" she shouts, "How can I get to the other side?"The second blonde looks up the river then down the river and shouts back,"You ARE on the other side..."

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE - A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it."Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me."The redhead took her finger, pushed her elbow and screamed. She pushed her kneeand screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere shetouched made her scream.The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you?"Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde.""I thought so," the doctor said. "Your finger is broken..."

KNITTING - A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway.Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!""NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!!!"

BLONDE ON THE SUN - A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day. The Russian said, "We were the first in space!"The American said, "We were the first on the moon!"The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!"The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads."You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian.To which the Blonde replied, "Duh, we're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!!!"

IN A VACUUM - A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. It was her turn. She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was, "If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?"She thought for a time and then asked, "Is it on or off???"

FINALLY, THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE JOKES! - A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were. The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, "Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?""HELLLOOOOOOO......," answered the blond. "They're watch dogs!!!"

Thanks Bro. Sutton for the Blonde Jokes...

Monday, February 20, 2006

He’s as Dreamy as he ever was…..

My daughters would use the word “Hot”, You say, “Who are you talking about?” Johnny Rivers, that’s who! Last Saturday night, TF took me to see him in concert. It was my birthday and TF had won the tickets on a radio call in. The last time I saw him I was 18 years old. That was 38 years ago and it was the only rock concert I had ever been to. I had the biggest crush on him. He was clean cut, handsome and boy could he sing. He was one of a kind. He was my secret agent man!

TF and I talked on the way out wondering if he still had his voice. I’ve noticed that when some of those old rockers get into there older years they tend to lose their voice. (Mick Jager, I’m talking to you.) I can tell you for a surety that Johnny’s voice is as good as it ever was. He melted my heart all over again. We noticed that 95% of the people there were our age. I guess you would say that his glory years were in the mid 60’s to the mid 70’s. He played all of my favorites including: Poor Side of Town; Memphis, Maybelline, The Midnight Special, The Seventh Son, Secret Agent Man, Baby I Need Your Loving, Tracks of My Tears, Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu, Whiter Shade of Pale and others. Johnny grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. so he has a great “blues” style about him. He dedicated two of his songs to the New Orleans area, it was very touching. The concert was, as my kids would say, “Totally Awesome”. I’m glad that I got a chance to go.

When we got home from the concert, I found a Johnny Rivers CD, that TF had bought for me, on the dining room table. I would have to say that dinner out and a concert was the perfect birthday present. How many of you remember Johnny Rivers?

On a frugal note:
http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/pf/20060214a1.asp Here’s the scoop on Satellite. If you are considering purchasing it, read this for a few facts.

http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/debt/20060210a1.asp Tackling debt from multiple credit cards.

You've got to listen to this! It's a phone call from a man in Texas who witnessed a car accident involving 4 elderly women. It was so popular when they played it on CHUM FM that they had to put it on their site. http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf

Friday, February 17, 2006

There's "Nothing Fair About This..."

Abusive debt collectors have discovered a new source of revenue – people who DON"T owe money.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors are supposed to advise you of your right to dispute a debt. However, if you don’t do so – in writing – within 30 days, the collector assumes the debt is valid.

It doesn't matter if you owe the money or not. Failure to dispute can result in a bogus debt collection attempt attached to your credit record.

According to msn.com, an abusive debt collector contacted Paul Alappat about a credit card debt. Paul had never owned this particular card, told the collector so, and asked them to stop calling.

When he applied for a home equity loan 2 years later, this $394.74 collection attempt appeared on his credit report. Paul was in a hurry, so he had no choice but to pay this bogus debt in order to get his equity loan.

These collectors are taking advantage of ignorance of the law, fear of credit score attack, and disorganized personal finances, to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.

If you’re contacted about a debt you don’t owe, take at least these steps:

1. Get collector’s name, address and telephone number.

2. Send a certified letter, return receipt requested, informing them they’ve contacted the wrong person.

3. Monitor your credit report http://www.annualcreditreport.com
for bogus debts and dispute them immediately.

All of this is at your time and expense, of course. Unfortunately, once contacted, it’s about the only way you can avoid becoming a victim.

----------------------

Greg Moore is the Architect of the Debt Freedom System,
'DebtIntoWealth -- Lessons from My Journey to Debt Freedom.'

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

What is Your Career Type? & Beef Short Ribs

Your Career Type: Enterprising
You are engertic, ambitious, and sociable.
Your talents lie in politics, leading people, and selling things or ideas.

You would make an excellent:

Auctioneer - Bank President - Camp Director
City Manager - Judge - Lawyer
Recreation Leader - Real Estate Agent - Sales Person
School Principal - Travel Agent - TV Newscaster

The worst career options for your are investigative careers, like mathematician or architect.
This was on my daughters blog and I thought it would be fun to do. Now, you would not see me with a cigar in my hand because I do not smoke. My favorite ones were: Auctioneer, Camp Director, Recreation Leader, Sales Person (I am a natural on this one), Travel Agent and Newscaster.

Recipe for the Day: Beef Short Ribs
3 lbs - short ribs, cut into serving pieces
oil
1/2 cup - ketchup
2 tsp. - chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. - salt
1 cup - diced onions
1/3 cup - vinegar
1 tsp. - paprika
1 Tbsp - Worcestershire sauce
Brown ribs in oil. Place in casserole, add onion. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over meat. Cover and bake at 325 deg. F. for one and one-half hours. Note: These can be cooked in a pressure cooker on a stove top, if desired. Recipe by: Jack Poulter

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Random Thoughts….

I’ve been really busy this week and I just haven’t had time to reply to those wonderful people who commented on my last post. I’m still helping Felicia with her packing and cleaning. It has inspired me to get to work on my own house. If I had to move right now I would be dead in the water, it would take months to get ready. So I’m trying to de-junk and clean. I sometimes wonder how I get anything done.

I have been working on a project, for church, that has kept me busy now for several weeks and this weekend we did all the work. It was our turn to work in the peanut butter factory. Between Friday morning at 10:00am and Saturday afternoon at around 1:00pm., we made 27,700 jars of peanut butter. We had 300 volunteers, from nine church units, doing the work. I was the coordinator of this group. If you worked the assignment, you were allowed to purchase some of the peanut butter, therefore I collected money and kept records of the purchases. Yesterday, during cleanup, I distributed the purchased peanut butter to the groups that bought it. Here in Houston, our church cannery makes all the peanut butter that is distributed through out our Bishops storehouse system. The Bishops storehouse is like a food pantry. Church canneries all over the country make the food that goes into the storehouses. Our peanut butter feeds people all over the United States through this system. Some of the peanut butter, made last year, was used to feed people in the Hurricane Katrina and Rita areas.

With all this work, I have been ignoring my own business. The good thing is that I do my business from home and I can work when I want to. Since I am not the main bread winner, I am not tied down to a certain number of hours that I have to work. Our business is building and eventually will become our retirement income. Residual income is a wonderful thing.

Anyone watching the Olympics? I saw part of the opening ceremonies the other night and I thought it was great. Pavorati brought down the house with his rendition of Nesendorma. It was beautiful. I watched the last of the speed skating competition last night and the young man from Spring, Tx. (our area) won the Gold Medal. I suppose my favorite part of the winter Olympics is the ice skating. I am hoping that Michelle Kwan will win her Gold Medal this year. It’s going to be tough but she has a chance. If you like the Olympics, what is your favorite part to watch?

Update: Well, it looks like Michelle Kawn is out of the Olympics, she has a groin injury and won't be able to skate. What a shame, I was really pulling for her. I have a feeling that this is the end of her Olympic career. She is getting older and I'll bet she will go to teaching the sport. I'll still be here cheering for the USA.

My daughter sent me this video, which is a Saturday Night Live take on “Don’t Buy Stuff You Can’t Afford”. Take a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzQY69jpQgM

Looking for some good healthy recipes? Here is a list of recipes from Dr. Diana Mirkin. I love reading her weekly articles. http://www.drmirkin.com/recipes/RecipeListType.html

From Dawn’s blog: Uses for Milk Jugs and Pantyhose: http://frugalforlife.blogspot.com/2006/02/uses-for-milk-jugs-and-panty-hose.html

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Favorite phrases…

I went to a group of meeting last weekend and there we several phrases that stuck out in my mind.

Never underestimate the heart of the Champion…by Rudy T. of the Houston Rockets after winning back to back championships.

Speak with the Spirit.

If you don’t take action….There is no place for victory to go. By Mark Jarvis

Move on your dreams.

Give yourself a chance to win.

Never give up before the Blessing.

Fight for your dreams.

Know what you are fighting for.

Change is inevitable – Growth is optional.

Your why has to be bigger than your obstacles.

We all need to be positive when we are working for a goal. Phrases like these help keep you buoyed up when things are looking down. Do you have any favorite phrases that inspires you?

UPDATE: When I wrote this post it was in the wee hours of the morning and my brain was half asleep. I had also wanted to post about Empathy and Caring.

Jim Rohn on Empathy and Caring:
1) Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.
2) Be sensitive to the plight of others.
3) You have to know about the tragedies as well as the triumphs, the failures as well as the success.
4) How do you build a bridge between age 12 and age 40? By remembering.
5) One of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone is the gift of attention.
6) The more you care, the stronger you can be.
7) Don't operate on the heart with a hatchet.

Go take a look at my darling granddaughter on Jennifer's blog. She is such a cutie!

Friday, February 03, 2006

How to break your fat cycle….

Story from First Magazine dated 1/30/06
Just as an oyster reacts to an irritant by creating a pearl, our bodies react to toxic irritants. But instead of creating gems, our cells simply swell up, a process known as Cellular inflammation.

Scientists have known for years that this process can cause heart disease. But they’ve only recently linked low-grade swelling to weight gain. “Cellular inflammation triggers leptin resistance”, says Leo Galland, M.D., director of New York City’s Foundation for Integrated Medicine. “It makes the brain less able to absorb, and respond to, the weight-regulating hormone leptin.” (Leptin signals the brain to speed metabolism and suppress cravings and appetite.) But the larger problem is long-term: As leptin resistance increases, body fat increases: as body fat increases, leptin resistance increases even more.

Amazingly, the vicious weight gain/leptin-resistance cycle can be broken in 24 hours! The key: foods packed with powerful anti-inflammatory compounds such as carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and flavonoids. “Eating foods with these nutrients calms cellular inflammation instantly, which allows the brain to respond to leptin,” says Dr. Galland. Indeed, studies at the Foundation for Integrated Medicine suggest that an anti-inflammatory diet triggers an 86 percent reduction in cellular inflammation, reversing leptin resistance and allowing women to effortlessly shed up to 14 pounds in just two weeks.

Foods that soothe swollen cells:
Carrots: Snacking on ½ cup carrots daily fuels the body with carotenoids. These natural antioxidants calm cellular inflammation and dampen leptin resistance, helping women shed up to 13 pounds each year. For best absorption, carotenoid-rich foods should be consumed with a little healthy fat, such as virgin olive oil or walnut oil.

Flax: Extensive research at the Mayo Clinic and elsewhere proves that flax is the richest plant source of inflammation-soothing omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, flax is nature’s number one source of lignans, unique plant compounds that can double the speed at which the liver metabolizes and excretes inflammation-triggering fat and toxins. The study-proven dose: 1 to 2 Tbs. of ground flax daily.

Tea: Sipping three cups of tea daily can help reverse leptin resistance, boosting metabolic rate by 10 percent and dampening appetite by 35 percent. The credit goes to catechin polyphenols and flavonoids, anti-inflammatory compounds that are 200 times more powerful than even vitamin E at soothing cellular inflammation, according to laboratory studies at Boston’s Tufts University and elsewhere.

Super- Slimming Tea!
Adding this infusion can quadruple the anti-inflammatory power of your favorite green tea! The secret: spices proven to soothe cells.
To make three servings:
1) Place 2 green tea bags and 10 whole cloves in 3 cups hot water.
2) Steep for 3 minutes before removing tea bags and cloves.
3) Add ¼ tsp. each cinnamon and cardamom and mix well.. Enjoy!

Lucy’s Notes: I have been drinking this tea and it does give me more energy. I ordered my spices thru San Francisco Herb Co. If you do not want to pay grocery store prices, they are the place to shop. I have been buying spices from them for years.

I’ll be out of town Friday thru Sunday for some business meetings, so if I don’t come visit your blogs, you will know why….Have a great weekend!