gaining perspective

I finished reading A Distant Prayer: Miracles of the 49th Combat Mission by Joseph Banks (brother of Ben B. Banks, if you know him) and Jerry Borrowman.

It tells the true story of Sargent Joseph Banks, who on his 49th mission, is shot down over Germany (actually the bomber in front of them got hit, slows down, and then releases its bombs on top of Sargent Banks' bomber and that's what brings down his plane). The other 9 men on his bomber don't survive the crash and he is taken prisoner. It talks about his captivity and beatings and his eventual escape and his reliance on God. The fact that it was his 49th mission is poignant...after 50 missions they would have been allowed to go back to the US--still in the military, but safe.

I have read several books over the last couple of years that have similarities to A Distant Prayer. For example, The Seven Miracles that Saved America by Ted and Chris Stewart has one chapter that describes some torture that was going on in East Berlin in the late 80s at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. And of course other World War II books like Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place, Night by Elie Wiesel, We Were Not Alone by Patricia Reece Roper, and others have similar themes. The stories also make me think of all the pioneers suffered.
There are several things that weigh on my mind as I read and think about these stories: the evil that men do, the amazing ability for our bodies to survive horrendous abuse, and how blessed my life has been so far that I have not had to endure anything truly bad.

Which, kind of changing tracks, but not really, leads to a story I heard from a BYU-Idaho devotional. The speaker was a veterinarian and said he never had bad days. He then tells a story (and his version was quite humorous) about how a family brought in a dog that was in sorry shape. He at first thought they wanted him to put the dog to sleep, but they didn't. After all the dog had survived, they wanted to doctor to try and save it.

The dog had been hit by a car and his eye popped out and the skull was crushed so that you could see his brain. They had a friend take it out and shoot it 5 times. They then buried the dog in a shallow grave. I don't know the time frame, but the dog, who wasn't dead, dug himself out of the grave and returned to the family. (can you imagine seeing this dog, that you thought was dead, coming toward you?) So the family brought the dog in.

Amazingly, even though the dog had been hit by a car and had been shot in the head and neck, and buried, it really didn't take too much to fix him up. Turns out it wasn't the brain they had seen through the cracked skull, but only the sinus cavity.

So compared to that poor dog, how many bad days do we really have? I know I don't have many...if any.

So, I count my blessings and I try to gain strength through these stories that I read and I pray for those who may now be suffering such pains. There is much I have to enjoy in life.

Epigenetics, anti-aging, and Havvn (and essential oils)

Alma 46:40  And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate--

I fully believe the earth was made for man and all in it for the benefit and use of man. However, knowing what is a true claim or not can be difficult at times. There are things I reject, things I accept, and things I haven't decided which category to put them in yet...

A few weeks ago at our March "Intervention" (Ladies Night Out), a friend introduced us to a new company called Havvn  (H A V V N). At this point they sell a juice called "Jus" that's full of anti-oxidants, a packet of powder called a Go Stick that you mix with your bottled water and it has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory effects and boosts your energy level, and then 3 chemical-free face creams (a day cream, a night cream, and an anti-aging cream).

A dictionary definition of epigenetics is "a study of the inheritable changes (gene expression) that occur without a change in the DNA sequence." For example, there might be a change in how your genes are expressed as you age without your DNA sequence changing. I had only heard that word a few weeks before Heidi brought up when I was subbing in a science class where one of the things they did was research creatine supplementation in athletes. I didn't really know anything about it.

So, Heidi introduced us to Havvn and its products. According to Havvn's site: "Epigenetic scientists are unlocking the major causes of aging--and its possible solutions." They are studying how to be healthier and "younger from the inside out" longer.

I know Heidi had some dramatic results almost immediately with her eczema, and her son's, being cleared up after years of dealing with expensive prescription medicines that didn't totally help.

My jury is still out for my benefiting from using these products. I've been drinking the Jus and Go Stick mix and don't know if it's really having an effect since my symptoms of inflammation were always inconsistent. I'd be OK for a while, then for some reason would have flare-ups. So, am I OK because I'm just in a normal pattern of no flare-ups, or has it really helped? Don't know yet. We have Intervention tonight and I'm sure we'll discuss it. Can't wait.

One of the topics from last Intervention was chemicals in our beauty products. Heidi told us about a website where you can go and see what kinds of harmful (or not) substances are in the products you use. www.cosmeticsdatabase.com is the place to go and check out what you are using

I don't know that I'm ready to pay the price for Havvn's face lotions (though I think the night cream smells DIVINE), but I figure at the very least I can choose less harmful products by using this site. Most of the products that fell in the "safe" categories were from companies I've never heard of before, but I did make a list of products that I do know. At some point I'll see if I can actually buy them in Fallon and see how much they cost.

To look more into Havvn and its products go to www.myhavvn.com/heidihigley to see their products and their claims.

A few days ago I went to an Essential Oils party...it's a topic I first heard about last summer. I ordered some products and they will arrive after Spring Break. I can't wait to try them out. If you are interested now, you can look into it at:  http://tiffsdoterra.blogspot.com/ Tiffany Moosman is the niece of a friend of mine and this is her site. Like Heidi, she has also experienced immediate results from using essential oils. We'll see if I do.

I also went to a Pampered Chef party this week. I bought a large scoop (which I am told is the perfect size for making cupcakes) and a measuring cup that pushes the peanut butter or shortening out after you've measured it. I look forward to using these items as well.

I hope to be able to avoid any parties for a while as my budget is busted for now.

April 2011 General Conference

There are always conference packets to be found online for children and youth. I actually saw one for adults and printed out a few of the pages. It had the following areas:

Picture of the Apostle
Name
circle which session he spoke at
the topic of the talk
fun facts about the apostle
scriptures he used (which, have you noticed, they rarely give references--you have to look them up or wait for the Ensign to come out if you don't already know the reference)
My personal insights/thoughts
and a large section for notes.

There was another site that gave 2 different sections that I kind of liked:
promises
warnings

What I want to add is:
things we were asked/told to do

My list of things we were asked to do will certainly grow, but for now this is my "to do" list:

Pres Thomas S. Monson: donate money to the general missionary fund, have a picture of a temple in each child's bedroom

Pres. Henry B. Eyring: Prepare yourself spiritually for a Day of Service


Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Be sensitive to the needs of others (and serve as the Savior did), open my mouth

Elder L. Tom Perry: Be prepared (and have kids be prepared) for the Sabbath by being well rested, properly dressed, and spiritually prepared

Elder Russell M. Nelson: Be more exemplary and courageous

Elder Richard G. Scott: Be kind and supportive to spouse and children

Elder David A. Bednar: Just keep pressing forward

Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Seek Godly correction

Elder Kent F. Richards:  Become a Saint through the Atonement

Bishop H. David Burton: Be kind to the poor

Elder Lynn G. Robbins: Never let failures progress from an action to an identity (stupid, clumsy...)

From the Young Women's Broadcast last weekend:
Sis. Mary N. Cook: Do one Samaritan-like act this week--extend beyond what is easy to do

Sis. Elaine S. Dalton: Make some decisions only once by making a list of "always do" and "never do" items

Pres. Henry B. Eyring: Claim the promise of Moroni often (feast, pray, be obedient)



My favorite talks:
Saturday morning:
Pres. Henry B. Eyring on the poor and the needy Opportunities to Do Good

Saturday afternoon:
Elder Russell M. Nelson on the difficult days ahead Face the Future with Faith
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the importance of righteous desires Desire

Sunday morning:
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf on not waiting for dramatic events to make us move, but take small steps now Waiting on the Road to Damascus
Elder Paul V. Johnson on trials More than Conquerors Through Him that Loved Us
Elder David A. Bednar on the spirit of revelation and how it compares to light The Spirit of Revelation

Sunday afternoon:
Elder Carl B. Pratt on tithing The Lord's Richest Blessings
Elder Lynn G. Robbins on being vs. doing What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?