Praying For...Tyson, our adorable, 6-year-old, Lego maniac...that he will be healthy, happy, safe, loved, and know Jesus as his Savior and Friend...that his childhood will be magical and unaffected by the evils of this world...that the leaders of nations will learn to negotiate and discover solutions that benefit mankind instead of plunging into war, instead of seeking power, instead of oppressing their citizens, instead of strapping future generations with mountains of debt.
Jesus' Word..."And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." 2 Nephi 2:26. This doctrine is especially important at this point in history. Everyone wants to play the blame game. Yes, outside circumstances can INFLUENCE choices, but they don't DETERMINE them. Every human is given knowledge of right and wrong. Deep down we know what is good and right and true. The trick is to grow that knowledge, hold onto those feelings, and CHOOSE the better part in spite of the temptations and buffetings of the adversary.
Bibliophilia...one of my tutoring children is making tremendous strides in reading and math. He suggested I read the City of Ember series. Although I didn't want to read it, because the movie stunk, I read it to encourage this boy. I love it. True, the writing boarders on twaddle, but the plot and theme makes the first two classic quality. I haven't read the second two. Sent Tyson several books for summer learning: Maps (a beautiful children's atlas), Afternoon on the Amazon (Magic Tree House), Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide), Cool Creations in 35 Pieces (a lego guide book), and Life of Fred: Apples (a humorous approach to the study of math that doesn't feel like a math book). Of all my grandchildren, he's the only one who doesn't LOVE workbooks. He will do them but doesn't think they are wonderful. Nevertheless, the desired affect of furthering academics can be had without workbooks.
Dr. Ginger, Medicine Woman...My preference before herbs and drugs is nutrition based medicine. Lately I've been trying to include a large amount of greens with each meal, which rejuvenates endothelial cells that line blood vessels. This allows them to produce life-giving nitric oxide, the world's strongest vasodilator, which prevents stickiness, stops and reverses plaque, and dilates blood vessels. Additionally, eating lots of greens regulates appetite, which in turn normalizes weight. Every day, I eat arginine rich legumes. An enzyme that builds Nitric Oxide, arginine only does its job when derived from food. I've read that arginine supplements can actually cause more heart attacks. Then of course onions, garlic, and mushrooms fight cancer and make food taste outstanding. Iron rich mushrooms strengthen while calming the immune system, which is great for people with auto-immune problems such as RA, lupus, pernicious anemia, SC, Crohn's, Addison's, eczema, leaky gut, diabetes, etc.
Cucina Fresca...At breakfast I eat at least half pound of salad before my oatmeal. Dinner has evolved into my green smoothie meal with another half pound of greens...usually only a green smoothie but sometimes I also eat a yukon gold potato--these potatoes are so delicious they need to toppings at all. Lunch is my big meal now. My newest food innovation is yummy plant food bowls, which I call Super Bowls. Basically they are some sort of veggie/legume stew over whole grains, sweet potatoes, or Yukon golds over savory, tomatoey, oniony greens garnished with lemon, lime, ACV, and hot peppers.
Super Bowls for 2
1/4 c lentils
1 carrot
1 stalk celery
handful of some chopped, non-starchy veg
1/4 onion
1 clove garlic
1 T veg powder
1/4 c dehydrated spinach
1 t oregano
1/2 t cumin
1/4 t red pepper flakes
Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 1-2 hours. 20 minutes before lunch time, get two pans going. One should be 1/2 c. quinoa cooked and a cup of water with 1 T veg powder. The other should be half an onion, a small clove garlic, a diced roma tomato, and 2 mushrooms water sauted over medium heat. After about 15 minutes, add 1 lb chopped kale or collards or green cabbage and a bit of water; steam for 5ish minutes. Layer greens, grains, beans. This is sooooo good, rib sticking, and healthy to boot. The legume part of this recipe can be varied to make many different lunch alternatives. India-brown lentils, change spices to curry use rice...Turkey-red lentils, change spices to paprika (lots) and red pepper flakes, use potatoes (or sweet potatoes)...Ethiopia-yellow split peas, change spices to garlic, ginger, red pepper, and turmeric/add lemon juice at the end, use rice...Japan-azuki beans, change spices to ginger, garlic, wasabi, and wakame/add snow peas, use rice...Italy-small white beans or lentils, change spices to rosemary and garlic/add tomato paste at the end, use potatoes or pasta...Mexico-lentils, add chopped tomato and mild green chilies/top with cilantro, use rice or potatoes...Frence-green split peas, change spices to thyme, use sweet potatoes or rice...Teotihuaca-baby limas, add chipotle paste or powder and lots of mushrooms, use garnet yams (which are really sweet potatoes)...SW US-mix of red and brown lentils, keep spices but add chili powder, serrano pepper, and smoked paprika, use rice or sweet potatoes...
Movement...after that little hiccup with my B12 levels (pernicious anemia started way before my vegan years), my energy has returned. Hurray!!!! Now I can get back to morning Ginjoga (my rolling, stretching, balancing, strengthening invention) and 10,000 steps-a-day. I'm looking at this desk for studying to keep me from being a couch potato.
