Beauty (and not so beautiful) uses for Bentonite!

What is bentonite??? The below information was taken from the Bulk Herb Store...

Bentonite Clay:
Bentonite clay has been gaining popularity in resent years as an internal and external cleanser for very good reasons. However with every good page of research there are ten more pages of nonsense, so we have worked hard to bring you the best information and the finest product on the market.
Why our Bentonite Clay?
Not all Bentonite Clay is created equal, most of it is not mined for internal use or sifted as finely as it should be. But here at the Bulk Herb Store we carefully select Bentonite Clay that is unsurpassed in purity, quality and is mined with only stainless steel equipment to keep it from adsorbing heavy metals while it is being harvested. Our Bentonite clay is a naturally forming clay (not processed) and all Bentonite, is made of minerals that are a part of the smectite class of clays. Bentonite clay is primarily composed of the mineral, montmorillonite which, if it contains sodium as an exchangeable ion, can swell up to six times its size when wet; this makes it the most adsorbent and absorbent of all the clays. Calcium Bentonite clay is only slightly swelling or non-swelling this allows the clay (if it is as finely sifted as ours) to pass uninhibited through the colon wall, were it will go on to clean the blood and give vital minerals to the bones. Our clay is a natural mix of both sodium and calcium Bentonite, this will allow it to do twice as much as either one by itself.
How It Works:
Bentonite Clay is a very unique substance, formed primarily of Montmorillonite, which is an extremely flat crystal flake, that carries a relatively strong negative ionic charge. The negative charge is compensated for by adsorbing a cation (either Sodium or Calcium) to the interior of the molecule, this is what makes it either Sodium Bentonite or Calcium Bentonite Clay. To put it another way think of the Montmorillonite crystal flake resembling two pieces of bread, with a strong vacuum pulling the lunch meat in between them, whatever lands there (Sodium or Calcium) determines what kind of sandwich it will be. Now when you activate this clay sandwich it will magnetically grab the junk in your body (heavy metals, toxins, acid, etc.…) and trade them for the” lunch meat” taking the toxins out in your waste. The two different clays although very similar in their inert state (dry) have very different applications when activated (mixed with water).
Sodium Bentonite
The Sodium Bentonite has the highest Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and the higher the CEC of the clay the stronger the negative charge. This means that Sodium Montmorillonite has a stronger vacuum for pulling in heavy metals and toxins that it comes into contact with. Furthermore the Sodium Bentonite swells more giving it the ability to adsorb and absorb more toxins pulling them into the interior layers of the clay and carrying the them out of the body through the feces. In order to enhance this process we have put together a herbal mix called Detox+
Calcium Bentonite:
Calcium Bentonite does not swell as much as Sodium Bentonite and while that makes it less effective as a detoxing agent it is more effective as a remineralizer. Because it dose not swell as much, Calcium Bentonite will have some tiny particles small enough to pass through the colon wall into the bloodstream. There it will scavenge out toxins and leave behind vital minerals. Montmorillonite is a Silica based mineral and it is silica that allows calcium to pass through the outer portion of the bone to the interior where it is most needed.
Bentonite Clay and your pH Balance
Another factor that makes Bentonite Clay Powder so indispensable is it’s ability to elevate your body’s pH. The Bentonite will absorb some of the hydrogen from your cells enabling them to fill that space with the oxygen you so dearly need.
Bentonite Clay and wildlife:
Peruvian Macaws seem to somehow know the benefits of Bentonite clay. Macaws are entirely dependent upon wild fruit for there main source of food, but at certain times of the year only poisonous fruit is available. So they will fly to the nearest clay lick and eat the clay in the morning which will adsorb the alkaloid toxins found in the poisonous fruit they eat during the day. Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. Bentonite clay's structure assists it in attracting and soaking up poisons on its exterior wall and then slowly drawing them into the interior center of the clay where they are held in a sort of repository. To state it another way, Bentonite is swelling clay. When it becomes mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound.
Bentonite Clay Toothpaste:
We at the Bulk Herb Store, decided to make an all natural, organic, toothpaste that would neutralize acid, remove bacteria filled organic mater, leach out infection and promote healthy gums. And we did just that! Check out our Bentonite Clay Toothpaste
Bentonite Clay Mask:
A clay mask made from Bentonite draws excess oils and debris to the surface of your skin, boosts circulation to tighten the skin and stimulate blood flow, and whisks away dead skin cells that can clog pores.
Bentonite Clay for skin irritation:
To control itching: A simple “mud pack” made with bentonite clay powder and enough water to create a thick goo can help control the itch and dry up blisters, herbalists say. Spread the clay over the affected area and let air dry. Keep it on until the clay wears off or gets itchy. Wash off the residue.
For first-aid: To make a healing pack, mix Bentonite clay powder or baking soda and oatmeal with water and an anti-infection herb (such as garlic, thyme, or calendula) or an herbal tincture. Apply to pimples, boils, or wounds.


Now, I could have said most of that, but it sure is easier to copy and paste!! LOL!

I have been experimenting with bentonite, using it in different scenarios and such. Every night for the past three weeks I have been making a bentonite clay mask. I don't use water and facial soaps to clean my face, instead I use raw coconut oil to clean off makeup and dirt. After I've cleaned my face thoroughly, I make a paste (very thick) of bentonite clay, homemade vinegar or raw yogurt. I stir these ingredients together in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon. Using ANYTHING metal will immediately activate the bentonite and cause it to clump up. Believe me, you will NOT be able to use it if you use metal...lol!
After everything is mixed into a nice smooth paste, I apply it to the clean skin and let it stay there until completely dried. After it's dried, I rinse clean with lukewarm water and wipe off with paper towels. I then apply organic flaxseed oil and massage well. Your face will be slightly red, but that's ok! The bentonite stimulates blood flow to the surface of your skin causing it to look like you just went running for three hours! That's a good thing though because the extra blood stimulation to face brings oxygen and healing properties to the face causing it to repair itself, detoxify, and shed old skin cells.

You will awake the next day to a face that feels so fresh and new! You've got to try it!

I also take bentonite periodically for metal detoxification since we live in an environment that is NOT sympathetic to our desire to refrain from ingesting metals and chemicals:-) It's also a good thing to use for a few days after you've used paints, carpet cleaners, or any other type of harsh chemical to help your body expel those toxins.

The best use for bentonite though happens to be for instances relating to pesky insects and bugs that like to bite or sting you! My 6 year old went outside to play with her older sister by the woodpile today and was taking some wood off to "build something creative" when she, very unknowingly, dropped a piece of wood on what I'm assuming was the entrance hole to a yellow jacket nest:-) Thankfully, she only came away with two stings, but if you've ever been stung by one, one sting feels like a million wasp stings. She came hollering into the house and I immediately made a paste of bentonite and homemade vinegar, applied it to the stings, and covered it lightly with gauze, and applied an ice pack. Within 20 minutes, the swelling was almost gone and she was back to her normal self and was trying to get the bandages off because they "were bothering her":-) I asked her if the stings still hurt, and she said "not really!" I'm so glad I have this stuff!!!  Excessive stings can cause severe allergic reactions in just about everybody, so this is a must have for your household medicine cabinet.

Now, being slathered in greenish gray clay is not the most beautiful thing in the world, but whether you use it on your face or use it to heal a sting or bite, the results are always beautiful! So, get yourself some and try something new! I promise, you won't be disappointed!
 I always buy mine from the www.bulkherbstore.com and I've never been disappointed with any product I've ever bought and I've been buying there for about six years!
Have a blessed day!

A simply home remedy for the Winter Woes!

Here is a simple home remedy that I make and use all winter time long to keep our family healthy! This is one of those simple things that makes you say after you make it, "Now why didn't I do that before!!!" lol!

Here's what you do....
 Ingredients:
  3-4 cloves of fresh garlic
  1 ginger root
  1 lemon
  Raw Honey (not found in grocery stores - what's in the store comes from bees fed sugar water that is more times than not, sweetened with a sugar substitute!)  

On the finest side of your grater, grate 3-4 whole cloves of fresh garlic and a good sized chunk of freshly peeled ginger root. You'll have to scrape if off the outside and in inside to get it all because it will be very juicy when you're done. Next, using a hand juicer, juice 1 whole lemon. Pick out the seeds....duh...lol!
Combine lemon juice, raw honey equal in volume to the amount of lemon juice you squeezed, the garlic and ginger. Mix it all together and store in a glass jar in your fridge. Take 1-2 tsp. per day in a glass of warm water!

Now, if you are a brave person who likes their gizzard to feel like it is on fire, then you can take the stuff straight!! I licked my mixing spoon after I was done stirring everything up together (like I normally do, but I don't double dip;-) and WHOA! That stuff has a bite! Then, I mixed it in warm licorice root/fennel tea and it was just perfect! It warms your insides but doesn't burn:-)

This will keep for one week in the fridge, but I doubt it will last that long:-)

Enjoy!

Why all the bronchitis??

Anyone wonder why we are having so much pneumonia, bronchitis, and respiratory infections this year? Could it be because we're ingesting the diseases through our food? "Food" that has been injected with numerous amounts of pneumonia, bronchitis, cholera, herpesvirus, hepatitis vaccines and then consumed by the individual must have some play in this, right?

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/nutrition_and_management_poultry/vaccination_programs_in_poultry.html

Check out this link and see what your food is getting injected with and then ask yourself this question, "Is this what is making me sick?". If you're eating ANYTHING commercially grown (chicken, beef, pig) then this is what you're intaking.

See why it is so important to eat local meat that is grown and cared for without these injections, horrible living conditions, and diseases?

There is a saying "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT". If you're constantly sick with something or another, you are the product of your food consumption. 70% of your immune system is based off of what lives in your gut. Sorry to be so blunt, but if you don't have healthy bacteria and flora in your gut from consuming lacto-fermented foods, raw yogurt, raw vegetables (NOT FROM ANY "grocery store" - those are pseudo vegetables - meaning, they are made to look like a vegetable, but have NO nutritional properties of a vegetable) clean grains, and fresh meat from your local farmer, you are consuming absolutely ZERO vitamins, minerals, nutrients of which are ABSOLUTELY necessary for the functioning of a healthy gut system.  You then in turn will be sick. Your kids will be sick. Nothing will seem to work, no medications, no herbs, no nothing. You will simply go from one sickness to another. Until you change WHAT YOU EAT, you will continue to be sick.

You say to yourself "Ok, then where can I get something clean?" Well, from the farmer. "Any Farmer?", you say? NO. Not just "any farmer". You must do the research, you must ask questions, you must observe the farm and it's practices, you must know what they do and how they do it. When all meet satisfactory requirements for clean practices, you can then buy from them. Eating clean takes work. LOTS of work. It never ceases to amaze me how little "work" Americans are willing to put into what goes into their mouth. So long as it comes cheap or free, they'll eat it. Most of what Americans consume, other countries have outlawed.

http://www.naturalnews.com/037328_Russia_GMO_Monsanto.html

There are a lot of interesting articles on the link above that you should read. Just because something is on a shelf and has the label of "organic or natural" on it doesn't mean that it is safe either!

Let the world see that we as believers are true to the Scriptures that we so loudly declare to be Truth...."whether therefore ye EAT, or DRINK, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God"..."what? know ye not that your body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God IN YOUR BODY, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Our bodies are a gift from God. How can they be effective for Christ if we can hardly get out of bed because of all the sickness we have? God did not create the GMO's, vaccines, antibiotics, drugs, artificial anythings. These things are man's way of rebelling against the things that God has created to provide a way for this dying old body to take care of itself and bring glory to Him while it lives here on this earth. God's way doesn't make anyone to be master. Man's way does. God's way doesn't make it possible for a man to be ridiculously wealthy. Man's way does. BUT, God's way is perfect. It makes us useable, fit for the master's use. It makes what we say about the Scriptures believable and effective. We say we believe God, that we trust Him, that He provides for us, but then everything in our lives links us back to dependence on the Government. Everything we consume comes from that institution because it's CHEAP OR FREE, (not really, it just seems that way) and yet we tell others that God provides for us???

God wouldn't give us things to make us sick, diseased, starved, afflicted....He is also under no obligation to be "our genie in the bottle" when we insist on following man's design, and then in our sickened state cry out to Him to "heal us" to do anything of the sort. He does do that at times because He is a loving and merciful God, but it seems to me that more and more Christians are taking the "genie in the bottle" approach to God. I believe that this country is facing chastisement for their sin of this approach to God.

I am so thankful that God has answered our "knock and the door shall be opened unto you" and our "seek and ye shall find". When man truly turns to God to be their sole provider and forsakes the ways of man, God WILL provide the way. Just Trust and OBEY!

How are you letting God be the sole provider of your earthly needs? Do you trust Him to lead you to the right and healthful resources, or are you depending on the Government to pay for your "needs" so you can "live on less" and "serve" God? Something was said to us one time when pursuing a ministry opportunity, "We can pay you this much less than what you're asking and here's a list of all the Government Aid stuff you can sign up for to make up the difference". This was coming from someone who was looking to hire my husband for a ministry position!! We turned it down. We've never looked back and God has ALWAYS taken care of us and we haven't had to eat "socialized food" in order to keep serving Him. I believe God honors the man whose God is the Lord and trusts Him with all his heart!

JUST TRUST and OBEY!

September/October happenings

It is so hard to believe that September is gone and October is here! Now that my favorite month of the ENTIRE year is finally here, I've been busy with WeeRuns for the kids clothing, organizing for the winter, planning weekend activities, and such. Here are some pictures of what all has been happening!

My Big boy!

Getting ready for the campfire!

Busy watching the fire! Don't worry, Caleb has been sufficiently trained on not touching "HOT!"

So handsome in my yellow boots:-)

Tents are set up and we're waiting to roast the homemade marshmallows!

Such a studious child I have....

Sweet sibling love:-)

Hanging out while Audrey takes pictures!

Good grief! He just has to have his finger where it doesn't belong!!

Kaylah's 3rd birthday cake...didn't have the writing on it yet, but it was fun to make!

I have discovered the "love" of homemade fondant! It's the best!

JD's 5th birthday cake!!! I made several "baseball" cupcakes that went along with this. All in all, the cakes turned out super yummy thanks to the rapadura that Pastor Deatrick brought back from Brazil this summer!

I'm sure you're wondering "why in the world did she put a picture of suitcases on here?"

The story behind these suitcases is pretty amazing:-) A couple of years ago someone needed to borrow our suitcase. We always let people borrow with the mindset that we don't expect it back....ever. In this case, they needed to just keep it to help make their life easier at the time! Well, that meant we were down to one 15 year old suitcase of mine that wasn't big enough to really hold all our stuff when we travel, but we just made do! Last night we took the kids out to do some shopping with the money I made from Weeruns, and we decided to stop in at Value Village in Gastonia. You just never know what you'll find there:-) Well, obviously someone had bought these suitcases and decided they didn't want them because theses cases ALL had original tags on them and paperwork inside them!!!! All three together retailed for $400!!!! and we bought them for only $30.00...ALL TOGETHER....FINAL PRICE!!!  Isn't that amazing! It is true that when you give, God ALWAYS gives back to you more than what you gave. You don't always know the time frame, but He always gives it right when you need it! Now, Audrey and Adalyn have a large suitcase, we have one, and we got a garmet bag to boot!

Tomorrow is the Columbus NC Farm Festival so we'll be taking lots  more pictures, so stay tuned!!! It's going to be a super fun day tomorrow and I know the kids will just have a blast! Wish our family could be here to enjoy the day with us!

Natural vs. Conventional

Natural vs. Conventional.

Pretty straightforward? Makes sense, right?

Well, most people think so until a real emergency arises and then natural gets thrown out the window for this....

FEAR.

Why does that happen? Their inner spirit tells them that this circumstance can be fixed following natural remedies too, but they chose to run to the "doctor" for his words of "safety". I said it above....fear. Is dealing with a health issue fearful? Yes, it is. Has God given us the spirit of fear? No. Then why is it that we run to man's medicine seeking peace from our fear? Human flesh:-)

The true test of commitment to God's way of healing reveals itself when a health issue arises. You're faced with a decision. Do I run to the Doctor when I already know what he'll do (shot, antibiotic, drugs) or do I research and change my lifestyle? 

Well, this past week I had one of those "revealing" moments:-) I have NO idea why these things happen except I guess God wants me to pass these "learning moments" on to you to give you the strength to make decisions for yourself about your own health. 

A couple of weeks ago I got a split on my ankle bone. The skin there had been unusually dry for some reason and the skin split...obviously. I kept Coconut oil on it to keep the elasticity and just pretty much left it alone. This past Wednesday morning, I got up, put my feet on the floor and this is what I had....

As you can see in this picture (taken with my husbands phone so it's not too great, but you get the idea:-) my right ankle is obviously in trouble:-) I don't know if you can see the red or not, but it was bright red halfway down my foot, around the back of my foot, my arch, and above my sockline. It was also 3-4 times the size of my other foot/ankle. I'm not sure what set this off, maybe an infectious mosquito bite on the area? I had gotten a few around there a few days prior to this. Maybe a spider bite in the night? Don't know for sure, but one thing was for sure, I had gotten a poison in my bloodstream.

I was not feeling very well that day, nor had I been feeling well for three days prior to this either. I had been taking bentonite clay so I think that was a plus for me at this point. I think it stemmed the spread of the infection internally due to the fact that the clay was already in my system doing it's job.

So, what did I do? I can tell you this much, I DID NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR. Even my natural-approach-to-everything husband wanted to take me in, but I said no. I knew what to do. I do my research, I keep things on hand for emergencies. I knew that the Doctor would only give antibiotics and those wouldn't help. Oh, they might kill off some of the bacteria, but they would do more harm than good and make me susceptible to other infections and diseases because of the stress they would put on my system. NO THANKS!

So, on to the stove went the pot of water. I boiled it to remove any chance of any bacteria in the water, cooled it down, poured in the epsom salt and plantain herb and started soaking. I soaked for 20 minutes, dried off the foot, packed it in bentonite clay paste, let it dry, repeated the process again. I did this several times on Wednesday on into the night Wed. night. Before bed I put raw yogurt on gauze and wrapped it up, iced it down for 20 min. then went to bed with the yogurt still on it. I kept repeating this process several times over the next three days. Saturday I did something different. I chopped up garlic and onion, sauteed it to get it hot, wrapped it in gauze and put it on! OUCH! Garlic and onions have a way of stinging when they get in opened skin...HAHAHA! They might sting, but oh the power punch those little things have!!!

After the garlic and onion episode, the red began to fade away rapidly. Today the swelling is almost normal and the soreness is limited to just the ankle bone and my tendon.

I got bit and I got bit by something very poisonous. It was extremely, extremely painful. I could liken it to a very bad sprain. Any movement was excruciating....kinda hard to deal with that when you have kids to take care of:-) but never say "I can't!", right?:-)

Point is this....natural remedies work. You don't have to have a shot for infection, antibiotics, or drugs to take care of things. YOU have to be educated, YOU have to know your body, YOU have to know food and how it works in the body, and YOU have to take responsibility for the body God gave YOU.  Doctors have their place....they sew back on what gets cut off, they set bones that are broken (they can't seem to tell if they're dislocated very well...lol) they can see down to your eardrum and confirm what you already knew...my ear is clogged up! and then flush it out with hot water for you, then show you how to do it so you can do it for yourself next time....they have their place. They are there for the "telling", you must do the "fixing".  99% of health problems are due to one thing....diet and lifestyle. The other 1% deals with bug bites, open wounds, and broken bones.

The important thing is this, get educated! You can know your body and you can take care of it! God designed it and He would not have put a brain on it that was incapable of knowing how to take care of the rest of it. You just have to get rid of fear. Don't be afraid! God has given power and a sound mind. Just trust His way!


Here's a list of things that I keep on hand for medical emergencies at all times....
  1. Bentonite Clay - acts like a porous sponge in the intestines, trapping bacteria and pulling it out of the body. Great for internal and external use.
  2. Diatomaceous Earth - fossil shell flour that is cone shaped and razor sharp. Great for parasites and intestinal worms. Also a GREAT source of Silica for hair, skin, and nail health.
  3. Activated Charcoal powder - wouldn't be without this! This is what the Emergency room charges $$$ for when you have food poisoning.
  4. Dried elderberries - fights flu and speeds the healing of coughs.
  5. Catnip - great fever reducer in children. Relaxes them so their body can fight the illness.
  6. Raw yogurt - this is ALWAYS in the fridge. Taken internally every day, but can be used topically to fight infection in open wounds
  7. Raw honey - when applied to open wounds the healthy bacteria in the honey kills off the bad bacteria to end the spread of the infection.
  8. Garlic and onions - used topically and internally. I also cut these up and put in a stainless steel bowl to float in a crock pot of water in my kids rooms when they get a cough or have congestion. Opens the airways to enable good breathing and yet are like porous sponges to bacteria floating in the air. They will absorb bacteria to keep it from floating from person to person through coughing. 
  9. Mustard seed powder - for the emergency of severe congestion. Can be made into a poultice and applied in clean cloths to the chest to enable breathing.
 10. Wintergreen oil or Eucalyptus oil. Dab a drop under each nostril to open airways, put a few drops in coconut oil and smear on the chest and back, or put several drops on a washcloth and insert into a pillowcase for congestion relief. I use this with my kids (especially baby man) all the time and have even used it for myself a couple of times I have felt a little "stuffed up".
  11. Plantain - excellent dried or fresh for any poisonous bite. Can be applied in poultice form or can be made into a paste from the fresh leaves and applied.
  12. Comfrey - for severe sprains, broken bones, severe bruising. Use only topically.

Going the natural, minimal doctor-use way requires one to be educated and prepared. You cannot say, "we try to be healthy" or "we try to not use medicine" and not be prepared. You'll end up going the conventional way because you haven't prepared to do the opposite. Don't plan to fail, plan to succeed!

*Disclaimer- nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat your particular problem. You must assume all responsibility for the information given and seek your own medical advice when needed*
 

Bits and pieces

Just some photos from everyday happenings around here...

Daddy and Caleb reading a book on an EARLY saturday morning:-)

Little Ethan's first birthday!

Two of the cutest toddlers EVER!

My little wild man

Our big girls playing a game...I mean, really, sliding with babies is just not their thing anymore...lol!

The "other" wild child..lol!

Ethan's Bean bag toys I made him

Caleb and Silas...best buddies!

Grandma and Grandpa Lockharts birthday cake I made...it got a little squashed on the way over in trunk...oh well!

Enjoying the beautiful day with Grandpa at the Carl Sandburg home in Flat Rock NC

Addy is SO ready to cut that cake!

Jd is petting the goats....hard to believe he'll be five next month!

Audrey helping Kaylah pet the goats....she's such a good helper!

I think the chickens were Caleb's favorite...he knew how to talk to them!

Take One!

Take TWO!

TAKE THREE!!!

Oh well, either someone is going to have their hand in their nose or mouth but at least in this one they all looked at the camera!!....it is what it is and we gave up trying to get a good one!! lol!!

Just some fun happenings in our house over the last few weeks. We're enjoying the cooler weather now here in the mountains and are looking forwards to being able to make a visit over the mountains to Aunt Cissy's new house only 3.5 hours away!! WHAHOO!!!
We're also looking forwards to the fall chicken and turkey butcherings that are coming up in the next few weeks...those birdies are getting big!
Stay tuned!

Goal accomplished!

After four very long years I finally did something last night that I didn't think I would do again:-)

I ran 1/2 mile.

Now, I know that is not a lot, but I've not been able to run at all since my accident almost four years ago due to hip and knee injuries. I was pleasantly surprised last night as I was running that my right knee and hip didn't twinge at all. My left still did (which is where I got the direct hit) but it wasn't sore or anything this morning which is REALLY HUGE!!!

I accomplished a goal this week that I've been working for for almost four years. Despite excruciating pain most days, I've pushed through workouts and twisty pretzel stretches in order to rebuild muscles and tendons that were damaged. Last night I got to reap a little reward for the hard work! I'm looking forwards to pushing it to 3/4 of a mile next week!

I work out at 4-5 days a week at home and then while the girls are in sign language class on Tuesday nights, we walk while we wait on them. I very cautiously tried what I thought would be the impossible last night and was just happy to see that the killer workouts I've put myself through have actually worked! :-)

It was just a reminder to me that faithfulness, diligence, and perseverance always pay off in the long run. It was a reminder that this body that God has given me is perfectly capable of healing itself if I treat it right. It reminded me that God is faithful. He has heard my pleas of "no more pain!" but has also provided me the right resources of nutrition and food to help heal what exercise can't. He is faithful.

I'm a long ways from running 5 miles a day like I used to before the accident, but it was so encouraging that the 1/2 mile I ran was EASY! I laughed and talked with my husband the whole time I did it. It barely even winded me! My killer workouts have not only strengthened my legs and knees but my heart and lungs as well!! That's an even extra plus!

God is so faithful. He gives strength to accomplish things when humanely it seems impossible. It's funny, while your working on something hard the mountain seems too high, but when you get to the top you then see that so long as you kept putting on foot in front of the other you got to the top!!

Keep putting one foot in front of the other....you're just one step away!