Category: Uncategorized

Public Service Announcement:  After I nearly poisoned my grandson with artificially sweetened Swiss Miss hot chocolate, I decided to create a delicious organic version that I felt happy serving to him after his playful adventures in this snowy wonderland! Here is the recipe (with hyperlinks to the products through amazon.com) that you can share with your family:

The very BEST home-made Hot Chocolate!

2 cups organic powdered sugar

1 cup organic cocoa powder

2 1/2 cup organic non-fat dry milk powder

1 teaspoon celtic sea salt

2 teaspoons organic cornstarch

1 Tablespoon organic vanilla powder

Hot water

Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a small pot, heat 1 cup of water or milk.

Fill mug halfway up with the mixture and pour in the hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest of the mixture in an airtight container to use another time.

Top with fresh whipping cream. Serve with lots of love, and abundance of kisses!

 

One of the most precious memories that I have from when the girls were tiny is reading to them at night.

Freshly bathed in their little girl nightgowns, with their curls still damp from the tub, smelling preciously of baby powder and clean skin, they would lay together in Caitlin’s big girl bed and we would tell them stories. They loved to be read to as most children do, but their favorite was always when Terry and I would tell stories from our own childhood. My “little girl stories”, and his “little boy stories”… there were an unlimited supply of them and the girls loved that we could sit there and tell one after another.

However, when reading from a book was okay with them, their first choice was always Midnight Moon by Clyde Watson. Their memories provided them the words to read along, even Gracie, at the tender age of one, could follow along, and Lily would add little hand motions, a preview of a life filled with dance. The story was indelibly impressed on their minds and I would hear them recite the words at random times, like riding in the car, or waiting for dinner, or playing together, always getting the inflection just right…

“Hop into bed

And snuggle down in

And pull the covers

Up to your chin

And I’ll tell you a secret

About the night…”

It is a beautiful, magical story about visiting the man in the moon and his little brown dog, and by the end, each of the girls was yawning with the contentment that comes from feeling safe and protected and loved.

Caitlin came over to the house today, to re-collect all of her glass bead making equipment that had been safely tucked away for her… a beautiful story all it’s own… but as we were going through boxes, I found the treasure that is Midnight Moon, and it flooded my mind with a myriad of thoughts and emotions. I decided that it would be most appropriate to have this book available for my new little grandbaby. I may even make an MP3 file so that this new blessing will be able to listen to NonnaLisa tell the story whenever he or she desires. I can feel the joy bubbling up inside me as I type this.

We cherished those moments of closeness and comfort that reading and heartfelt prayers to our Heavenly Father provided our daughters before bedtime. I would blow kisses to each of them all the way down the hall and all the way down the stairs. Usually there was a light breeze and I could still smell their little girlness… I still can… they will always be my little babies… even with babies of their own.

When we establish security for our children by having a routine, something that only we can provide; when we appreciate the blessing that is their childhood, something that can never be reclaimed; and when we embrace the challenge and the joy of being our children’s earthly parents, something that God chose just for us; when we love our families… we are LIVING WELL.

LIVE WELL.

Lisa

A note about Oliver: As Terry and I are catching up on our day together, sitting and chatting, sharing stories from the day, Oliver participates in his own beautiful way by singing his own stories right along with us. All the stories sound similar to me, but I am sure that each is unique and special to him. So eventually I head toward his cage and take him out and hold him in my hand while he brushes his sweet little face against my cheek and I tell him what a wonderful story he shares. And he says thank you as he continues to sing his beautiful song.

I just realized that I’m a hypocrite! A BIG one!

The majority of my adult life I have been an advocate of trusting God, having faith in my Heavenly Father, being obedient to His Written Word, and His Prophetic Word. I have trained up my daughters in those tenets and instructed them with joy knowing that it was a privilege and an honor to do so. Sooooo sure…. sooooooo confident….

And yet….. last week, as I struggled to manage the extreme pain of a tooth that was misbehaving in a huge way, I quickly left my convictions to fend for myself. To figure out the problem. To figure out the solution. To call someone. To see someone. To get meds for the pain. And anti-biotics for the perceived abscess that was threatening the life of my tooth. Where was the peace that comes with trusting the One that loves me so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins? God watched.

To explain further… I consider myself someone that has a relatively high pain threshold, but the pain that I was experiencing had woken me up and had me in tears all through the night. The next day wasn’t any better. The pain was bad, but I was also mad, aware that so many people that I know are dealing with much more serious issues than a toothache, and yet here I was unable to do anything because the pain was all-consuming. There’s probably some pride issues at work here, but I was infuriated with my body… more specifically my tooth. I got in touch with my dentist who couldn’t see me because they were in the middle of an all-encompassing office relocation, but based on the symptoms, she felt certain that I had an abscessed tooth and I should see an oral surgeon immediately. She called in a prescription for narcotics and anti-biotics. I did more research. And God waited.

The options for an abscessed tooth are pathetic. I wasn’t interested in keeping a dead tooth in my mouth, or having an extraction, or an implant, or compromising two perfectly good teeth for one fake tooth. All have long-term repercussions for my over-all health and well-being that are very serious and that I have a serious problem with. All bad news. And God waited.

Enter Terry, my husband, my chiropractor, the spiritual leader of our family, the love of my life. “Let’s get you adjusted.” Alright.

As I lay on the adjusting table, after a much-needed adjustment, Terry held my head in his hands, palms over my lower jaw, and prayed. He prayed for healing, for peacefulness to come over my body and my mind, for the pain to be alleviated, for complete restoration. I wept. And God listened.

I believed for those things too. I did. I do. It’s my logical mind that understands limitation of matter and that the reversal of an abscessed tooth is… ohhhh, pretty much unheard of. So here comes the doubt. My lips were saying, “I’m holding out for a healing.” My fingers were looking on-line and dialing telephone numbers and driving me to someone I thought was an oral surgeon, even as the pain continued to subside, to be completely manageable, almost non-existent.

As she looked in my mouth and evaluated my situation, she was perplexed. When did this start? What were you experiencing? Does this hurt? Can you feel that? Completely confused. The tooth was not abscessed. I still didn’t get it. And God waited.

So today, as I sat across from my prayer warrior husband exclaiming in amazement at the lack of pain and how truly comfortable the tooth felt… he just looked at me, and said,”What did you expect, wife? We claimed it in Christ’s name.” And God smiled.

Being connected spiritually is not enough… being connected and believing and trusting… truly believing and trusting in the God of the Bible… that is living well.

In faith and in health,

Lisa

I am so thankful that I have a husband that understands me. He has taken the time to find out my love language and speaks it to me on a daily basis. I know that our relationship is harmonious because he knows that “acts of service” is the way I hear the words “I love you”. And he is patient and understanding and helpful when my to-do list is threatening to consume me alive. Words that are music to my ears? “How can I help?” And he speaks them often!

Here is the result of his latest “act of service”:

Furniture assembled, photos perfectly hung, room ready to help and serve people. He knew it mattered to me, and he knew how he could help. He never feels the obligation of holidays to “catch up”, he knows how to show me he loves me everyday of the year.

To reflect on  your own love language and those closest to you, please go to the Love Language on-line quiz, and take the free 30 question test. Then get a copy of The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman to learn how to love better.

Love others the way they feel loved and LIVE WELL!!

Lisa

Note from Oliver:  Oliver is kind of wishy-washy about his love language. On cage-cleaning day it is “acts of service”, when I am telling him how beautiful and smart he is, it is is “words of affirmation”! But his number 1 love language all the time is freedom to fly!! Free as a bird around my living room!! It’s what he waits for all day, every day!

YUP! That’s my vehicle all the way at the back there in one of  the farthest spots!

Let me explain, though! I am not concerned about cars parking too close to me or my safety. I am  just not a big exercise freak… not even a little exercise freak! Even the word is unappealing to me. But exercise is congruent with a healthy life-style. So I make it happen by walking twice as far as necessary! Thus, the parking spot choice! If I can make little changes like this on a daily basis, then I am doing better than I was the day before! Victory in everyday life!

Here are some other good 30 minute choices:

Walking the soccer field during the kids’ practice = 120 calories

Vacuuming & dusting = 119 calories

Yard work = 178 calories

Sex (with your spouse) = 145 calories

All pretty great options and they are part of the lives we live!

For information about other activities and the calories they burn up, go to the Calorie Calculator and input your own favorites!

To lose one pound, you must burn 3,500 more calories than you take in as food! So the other part of my own personal equation is to eat half as much! Take whatever you want, fill your plate so you don’t feel deprived, but eat slowly and leave half of it. Store it for lunch tomorrow!! Simplicity at it’s finest!!

Here are some basic ideas of appropriate portion size:

3 ounces of lean meat or poultry

1 cup of fresh fruit or pasta

1 ounce of organic cheese per cube

1 gluten-free pancake

Move twice {2x’s} as much!!

Eat half {1/2} as much!!

And LIVE WELL!!

Lisa

 

Something that I have noticed about Oliver: He never gets fat! He always has food and he eats many times a day and he never gets fat! It’s an amazing phenomena! One that I am a teeny tiny bit jealous of. His body knows exactly how many calories to take in depending on how much flight time he’s had. He is constantly moving even while he is in his cage, only still while he is asleep. I am working to model my food intake based on my observations of this precious creature. Eat the foods that God has given me from the earth and eat it according to my level of activity. I learn from him daily. Thanks, Oliver!!

I consider myself someone that loves people…. but I have a confession… I love them less when I love myself less…. when I feel uncomfortable about the way I look, about the way my clothes fit, when my shoes feel hurt-y… I tend to hide out. I seclude and sequester myself away from everyone… I become anti-social. Shameful, I know.

I always {eventually} get back to my Bible… about why we are here…  about what God says about me… and my purpose… and I can tell you it is NOT to hide-out pretending I don’t exist. How can we spread the Word when we are invisible?  Well, there is always facebook and twitter and wordpress, but in my heart, I know that it is the Light of Christ in me that needs to shine… brightly and brilliantly. To be a witness in real time. To see other’s needs and help where I can, help where I am called… and as much as I enjoy my home, it offers a very limited view and a very limited access to the world.

So I need to leave it. I need to be out there. I need to serve in ways that God has prepared for me. I need to be obedient.

So I shake my crazy hair, clearing the lies out of my head about not being good enough, or pretty enough, or smart enough. I do the best I can. I choose to choose better… food, beverages, activities, books, movies… better thoughts. And then I choose to be a social creature. The one I was made to be.

Tonight I was social. Tonight was an evening of enjoying my best friend/handsome husband/lover/chiropractor/protector, and two of our very dear friends… savoring the love and attention that was infused into a delicious meal… conversing about children, and chiropractic, business, and life… and realized that this is an immensely important aspect of living well.

Tonight I was living well.

In health and in love,

Lisa

 

A note about Oliver:  So Oliver’s favorite food is no longer available at our local pet shop. But as always Amazon came through and provided us with several domestic dove food options!! How thankful that he and I were!! Until I opened the bag and realized that this seed mixture had dried peas in it! Dried peas!! Have you ever seen them? Ever compared them to the size of a millet seed? Well, I have and I can tell you the pea is almost the size of Oliver’s head!! So I picked through all that bird seed, trying to pluck out all the peas… but I will admit to you, while we were away for the evening, about every 9 or 10 minutes, I would think about Oliver, wondering if he was in need of the Heimlich maneuver. Happily, he was singing away when we walked in! Dried peas scattered all over the bottom of his cage!! I’m telling you, the bird is brilliant!!

One of the ways that Terry can tell that I am stressed is the deep furrows between my eyes. They become even deeper when I am concerned or upset about things happening in my life, either to me or around me. The furrows are a reminder of where I come from and who I came from. My Nonna had them as did my father, interchangeable, each like the others. They are a good barometer for my emotional health. The happier I am, the less noticeable they are. Caitlin has them, too, and I’m sure she’ll thank me later! I wear them with honor now, although I admittedly try to diminish them when at all possible. Like through conflict resolution.

We had a speaker, Jay Rothman, President of Aria Group, Inc., join us this past Thursday evening at Living Well Spine Center to share information regarding conflict resolution. He is world-renowned. Peace treaties, middle east conflicts, inner city struggles… all a very big deal. Ultimately, whether it’s countries or persons, what it gets down to, according to Jay, is the individuals involved. What is inside of each and every one of us. Being able to set aside pride and self-righteousness for the good of the relationship whether it is husband and wife, mother and daughter, boss and employee, doctor and patient, or kings and presidents, resolving conflict requires truly seeing things from another person’s perspective, to respect another opinion, whether it be in general, as another human being, or as specific as the man that you fell in love with, and deciding that this is an opportunity to find out more about yourself… what makes you who you are. Studies show that conflict of any kind whether it is with a spouse, child, or a neighbor, can result in bad habits, high blood pressure, overeating, and angina, not to mention the unnecessary wrinkles. A Danish study revealed that there is a three-fold risk of angina when in a tense relationship with an intimate partner, troubled relationships with children elevated the danger two times and conflict with a neighbor presented a 1.6-fold higher risk. As you begin to dismantle the conflict, the anger, which has prevented you from loving fully and completely, will slowly dissolve, which will give both parties an equal opportunity for spiritual growth and for living well.

Here are 7 steps to resolving conflict so that you may LIVE WELL:

1. Acknowledge it! Conflict is a normal part of life because we are all created in unique and special ways, therefore we think in unique and special ways which sometimes do not match.

2. Face it! Set aside PRIDE, FEAR, and STUBBORNNESS and face up to resolving the conflict.

3. Consider it! Not just with praying, thinking or forgetting about it. But do pray and consider these things:

a. Of the 3 major reasons for anger, hurt, frustration and fear, which one of those has caused you to be angry?

b. What is your desired outcome?

4. Approach it! Go directly to the person involved first!

5. Sensitize it! Talk privately, gently, thinking in terms of how you would want to be approached about an issue. Remembering the wise words of Solomon in Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

6. Communicate it!

a. Describe clearly what you observed or felt. (Example: “You didn’t listen.”)

b. Give an explanation of how it hurt you. (Example: “My opinion didn’t matter to you.”)

c. Explain what the consequences have been like for you. (Example: “I feel resentful”, or “I feel like smacking you when you treat me like that.”)

d. Be specific about what you would like in the future, how you would like this behavior to change. Although an apology is a good start, changing implies that there will a difference, so be sure to state exactly what you would like to see happen in the future.

7. Reconcile it! If the goal is to restore the relationship, then there is no longer a need to prove who was right, or to retaliate against anyone, or to avoid interaction with them. To restore the relationship, you must remember that “conflict is inevitable, resentment is optional, and resolution is up to you.”

As illustrated in James 3:17-18, “…wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure: then peace-loving & considerate, submissive, full of mercy & good fruit, impartial & sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” By keeping those guidelines in mind, seeing things through God’s eyes, and protecting the good of the Kingdom, and by seeking the optimal desired outcome according to biblical standards as the foundation will allow both parties to ultimately succeed!

Live Well,

Lisa

P.S. Oliver said that things are very conflict-free around here, especially when the man is saying things like, “yes, honey”, “whatever you think is best, dear”, and “it’s completely up to you, beautiful wife”! Oliver is one perceptive bird!!

One of the joys of being snowed in [or iced in] is cooking up some heart warming, soul soothing soup… soup that you prep and stir and cook and stir and add and stir and cook allll day long!! The smells are aromatic and they promise deliciousness to come!! This soup is extraordinary in its simplicity, complex in it’s flavor, and nutritive in the ingredients’ properties. Wow!! A trinity of perfection!!

So the 7 ingredients needed are:

2 1/2 pounds of yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced… one of the most powerfully alkaline foods, potatoes helps to neutralize body acid, and dissolving uric acid. Most people have a very acidic body because of the large quantities of processed, fast foods that they consume. Disease processes occur in an acidic environment. By decreasing acidity, by introducing alkaline substances, you are creating a healthy environment for life.

2 Tablespoons of olive oil… an excellent anti-oxidant, a healthy fat that promotes heart health by lowering the “bad” LDL cholesterol without affecting the “good” HDL, pure organic olive oil helps keep blood cells from sticking together, increases blood flow and reduces inflammation. It may even prevent cancer and a host of other ailments… those Italians know what’s up!!

3″ of gingerroot, divided into 4 pieces… a deliciously spicy digestive aid with anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis, rheumatism, and muscle spasm. Ginger root effectively stimulates circulation of blood, removing toxins, cleansing the bowel and the kidneys, and nourishing the skin. Other uses include treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory challenges by loosening and expelling phlegm from the lungs.

10-12 whole garlic cloves, peeled… used to effectively treat battle wounds in WW1 and in WW2 it was known as Russian penicillin because it was so effective in treating wound infection…  we now know that garlic contains a substance called allicin, which has anti-bacterial properties that are equivalent to a weak penicillin. Garlic was also used to cure small pox and was described as an inexpensive “cure-all”. Today, studies have shown that garlic can lower cholesterol and trigylceride levels, improve the outcome of coronary heart disease, reduce high blood pressure, reduce or cure fungal infections and some potential reductions in certain cancers, specifically those of the colon and stomach, as well as, reverse some middle ear inflammation.

1 scotch bonnet pepper (or 3 jalapeno peppers)… an excellent source of capsaicin which is a safe and effective analgesic agent in the management of arthritis pain, herpes pain, diabetic neuropathy and headaches, also promotes effective relief from symptoms of colds, sore throats and fevers, circulation issues, such as cold hands and feet. Renowned as a heart stimulant, capsaicin regulates blood flow and strengthens the arteries, possibly reducing heart attacks. An excellent source of calcium and vitamin C, this ingredient also promotes healthy weight loss.

1/4 cup of sherry or white wine… contains antioxidants that help control cholesterol levels

16-24 ounces of no-chicken chicken broth… rich in the following nutrients, Vitamins A, B and C; potassium; sodium; enzymes; and  alkalizing minerals. Chicken broth is an excellent cold and asthma remedy and has anti-inflammatory properties by keeping a check on those inflammatory white blood cells, also known as neutraphils. Cold symptoms, such as coughs and congestion, are often caused by inflammation produced when neutrophils migrate to the bronchial tubes and accumulate there.

Worth the little effort it will take to create this soup? Let’s get started.

Pour the olive oil into a large pot. Heat it slowly with the whole garlic cloves, whole pepper, and pieces of the gingerroot for approximately 15 minutes. As the oil warms it will become infused with the flavors of these fresh therapeutic ingredients. [Refer to the photo on the left] Be careful not to puncture the pepper, or it will become extremely spicy, which if you enjoy and can tolerate excessively spicy foods then puncture away, the perspiration that will be produced from ingesting the heat is also cleansing. You can always add a small amount of the pepper to individual servings once the soup is complete. Once the pepper has softened, and the garlic and ginger are slightly browned, add the diced potatoes. Stir to coat with the flavored oil and begin browning the potatoes. [See middle photo] Hint: Now might be a good time to remove the pepper.

Continue to cook and brown the potatoes over the next 30 minutes. Scraping the bottom to get all the flavorful bits re-incorporated into the potatoes. After 30 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of the sherry. Cover and let steam for a minute or so, deglazing the pot. Stir and continue to cook until the potatoes are soft. Add the remaining sherry and deglaze the pot again. Stir and then add 16 ounces of the no-chicken broth. Heat together. Remove whole pieces of ginger root. Add any or all of the pepper back in at this point. [Refer to photo on the right.] Serve very thick or add additional broth to suit your taste.

Enjoy in good health and live well,

Lisa

Note from Oliver: He would like you to know that this tremendously rich and delicious soup smells very tempting. I told him that it is best to be satisfied with what he has… millet seeds, milo and oat groats. He listened.

Ginkgo Biloba… tree of life… perhaps… there is plenty of evidence to support that thought. Plus it makes me happy to think that it is!

Ginkgo Biloba, an amazing tree that survived the millennia, climate change, and even the atomic bomb is used as a youth elixir to keep mind and body in good shape. It is the oldest known tree in the world.

Longevity is one of the hallmarks of the ginkgo biloba tree. Its life span can go up to a couple of thousand years old; it is said that the oldest tree in China is some 3,500 years old!

Its longevity is one of the reasons why some people see the ginkgo tree as one of the wonders of the world.

Some people see the ginkgo tree as a symbol of changelessness as well as of the immeasurable past.

The ginkgo biloba tree is hardy. It can survive in many areas and has been planted around the world in most temperate and subtropical regions.

An intriguing ginkgo tree fact – the sole survivors of the atomic bomb blast over Hiroshima, Japan by the US in 1945 were several ginkgo biloba trees.

Another notable ginkgo tree fact – the bark and leaves of the plant are believed to secrete a sap which acts as a fire retardant. One of the useful functions of ginkgo biloba is thus a natural means of protection against fires.

During the great fire after the earthquake in Tokyo, Japan in 1923, many ginkgo trees survived when other trees perished.

Artists and painters have long used the ginkgo leaf for its beauty and aesthetic value.

Living Well Spine Center has a Ginkgo Biloba tree planted firmly in the grassy front area of the building.

All excellent reasons to use such a beautiful creation as a cornerstone for health.

Which is why I am doing exactly that.

Thank you, God, for these trees. Oliver says, “Amen!”

In health and in love,

Lisa