Natural Health and Wellness

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had se...

-h/Candycanes.GIF"> It's Friday afternoon just a few days before Christmas. My shopping is complete, the gifts wrapped, and the house is almost ready for our family's Christmas festivities. To have today and tomorrow to relax a little has been wonderful. My thoughts (as they have so often the last few weeks) continue to turn to exactly how it is we should be celebrating this season. JESUS IS THE VERY BEST GIFT EVER. My gifts can in no way compare -- and they aren't even handmade this year as they have been so often in the past. The momentary pleasures and joys -- they're memories worth keeping. Like the one yesterday when my 2 year old granddaughter and I visited the Enchanted Forest. This exhibit of elves and forest creatures having fun in the snow while busy preparing all the toys and fun Santa will soon deliver, features old, old motorized animals and elfs. The animals were all waving to the children as we wandered our way through the exhibit which now finds ...

What kind of bird can write? (Give up? The answer is at the end of this post.) These little tuxedo clad guys give me the giggles. I also wonder while even though they are fairly small creatures, how they get around on those little webbed peds. They're like a roly-poly get around on a couple of playing cards. This leads to a serious question. . . How are you getting around? This time of the year we all seem to be rushing everywhere, shopping, cooking, decorating, partying . . . and at the end of the day the "dogs" are feeling quite abused. You may help them out with a gift of reflexology , of course! (You are smiling here, right?!) Another discovery I made over the summer was the Earth Shoe. If you're old (like me) you'll remember these from say 30 years or so ago. . . rather clunky in appearanhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif ce, but if you wore them you may recall how happy your feet were to live in such comfort. So, the shoes have been around a very long ti...

In the not too distant past you were made aware of my decision to check out tea as a morning "spot" of choice. Alternating between the fine teas from Generation Tea and my gourmet coffees, I have made the amazing (but perhaps not startling) decision, that my body loves me much more on the days I choose the tea. I've really enjoyed those I've purchased from generation tea. . . some are already in bags . . . some are used with an infuser. . . both fabulous. When I opened the infuser to clean it, I was amazed at how vibrantly green the leaves had almost come to life. This online shop is worth the virtual trip. . . treat yourself . . . or an impressionable last minute gift. Generation Tea

With one incredible 2 year old grandchild and two more on the way, you will believe that this Grandma is always on the lookout for all the perfectly unique gifts for these perfectly unique and special little people. Surfin' about for exactly that, I came across this wonderful website with even more wonderful offerings! You'll find more links there for "Posh Home" and more. Have a look for yourself at PoshTots . Find spectacular treats for your perfectly incredible little someones!

Laughter is the best medicine. . . We've all heard that said so often. Just what is the medicine good for? Obviously, if you're laughing you are probably in a jovial mood and stress is being relieved a bit. I became curious today as to exactly what other great side effects there might be to this particular form of medicine. Google led me to a website full of facts on the effects of humor and links to humor as well. Here is there report in a nutshell. A good hearty laugh can help: * reduce stress * lower blood pressure * elevate mood * boost immune system * improve brain functioning * protect the heart * connect you to others * foster instant relaxation * make you feel good. Lots more specifices are found at: www.helpguide.org

When prospective clients look at the miessence organic line of skincare and cosmetics I represent, they often look first at the price. That's quite a shame, I believe, especially when they are comparing it to the products they are purchasing at the big chain drugstore on every corner. Just the ingredients label alone on those products truly are screaming, "Unless you wish to put totally toxic stuff on your body, don't even take me home." Much appreciation goes to the miessence representative who took her precious time to compare our prices to the other organic brands on the market. Now we are comparing oranges to oranges here. The truth is that ounce for ounce miessence comes in pennies higher than two other brands, but in many cases dollars less than some of the most well-known. miessence quality is tremendous. You will find the entire miessence certified organic product line by clicking here . Thank you for visiting. You'll find gift ideas that are truly a tre...

A man leaves all kinds of footprints when he walks through life. Some you can see ... others are invisible, like the prints he leaves across other people's lives. -- Margaret Lee Runbeck As a reflexologist perhaps I could better say I leave handprints across the footprints of another's life. . . . in any case reflexology at its best is loving, caring, supportive touch. I pray the invisible prints I leave may be seen as the beauty of THE CREATOR and His awesome touch -- A touch that He allows to flow through me as His humble vessel and thereby becoming His life touching the life of another.

In my email box this morning . . . a devotional from one of the links we include on this blog . . . and dedicated to any of you reading this that are feeling the pressure of the season . . . Super Mom Has Left the Building by Marybeth Whalen “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Devotion: I just have to insert something in the midst of this busy season we call Christmas: “You can’t do it all.”And I don’t think I can say that enough. I found this entry in my journal from years ago, and I thought you might like to read it… Someday… I’ll remember to order those cute Christmas return address labels for my cards. I’ll bake real gingerbread houses like Martha Stewart instead of buying those cheap, cheesy kits. I’ll finish my shopping early instead of waiting to the last minute. I’ll hand make gifts for all our neighbors, teachers, postal carriers, and garbage men. I’ll wrap p...

I picked up my precious 2 year old granddaughter from her Mother's Day out program this afternoon. As we drove down the main thoroughfare of our suburban community, she continuously pointed and shouted, "Look! Look!" She had spotted the tinsel decorations displayed (year after year) on the utility posts lining the road. They were so familiar that while festive, they certainly didn't evoke the same awestruck response in me that they did in that sweet little red haired cherub. This evening I opened my email to find this quote . . . ponder for yourself . . . then look for all the reasons to truly be awed (child like) by THE PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS. Those of us who are most familiar with the Spirit's promises are in the greatest danger. ... familiarity may not breed contempt, but it takes the edge off awe ... promises that drop the jaws or widen the eyes of newcomers but provoke no more than a raised eyebrow in the old-timers who have ceased to dream. -- Jim McGuiggan

Several folks I know have become bedazzled with beading. They are making many of their Christmas gifts. Fabulous looks you create yourself with a special friends' or family members' style in mind, provide a treasured gift. At the link below you will find a wide variety of fabulous beads and findings for your gifting endeavors.

Relationships -- the last couple of entries mention these a few times. Please allow me to share a brief devotion I read recently about the most important relationship of all. Whatever gifts you give and in whatever way you celebrate the season, please know and remember The relationship for which we were made, the relationship our heart never ceases to crave, is very specific. We are barely into the first chapter of the story when we encounter a significant fact: "Let Us make man in Our image." Making man was a relational affair from the very beginning. We were born in the womb of the greatest relationship the galaxies have ever known. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit . . . God made us for Himself. Fawn Parish It's All About You, Jesus He who loves Me will be loved by My Father. John 14:21

Have you checked out www.adventconspiracy.org ? After posting that link yesterday, I also added a couple of links to purchase gifts. Is this a contradiction? I did give that some serious consideration, and believe it is not. I love the idea that Christmas Changes the World promoted by the website above. They spoke of relational gift giving -- mostly home made gifts and gifts of your time. Many, many years I have done exactly that. It still takes much time, some times much money, and it may still produce the stress that keeps us from making a real difference in the lives of others through this Season meant to celebrate Christ's birth. My hopes are that your gifts for loved ones, whether home made or store bought, are given in love and chosen especially for that person. Whether a large gift or a small one, one that shows your thoughtfulness about the gift recipient's likes and dislikes, I believe will be relational at its best. The carefully chosen gift says to the recipient, ...

Silver bells. Ring-a-ling, here them ring. It's Christmas time in the city! Where were you on Black Friday? And Today? It's Cyber-Monday you know? The report is that businesses will lose over 4 million dollars of productivity in the workplace today, as employees use their work computers to shop online. Sales figures for this year's marathon weekend were higher than last years. That is a HUGE deal in the retail world, but it is rather unsettling when we face the music of the price we pay to celebrate Christmas this way. How do we destress? Is it possible to bring back the peace and joy of the birth of The Savior to this season that at its true heart is all about JESUS! A local newspaper columnist introduced the following website in her writing yesterday. Jesus offers us the most wonderful relationship EVER with Him, and because of Him we celebrate with family and friends. Would you like ideas for keeping your holiday more of a relational celebration of Jesus, family and frie...

Cleaning out some of my vast collection of emails, I came across these words this morning. As we head into the incredibly jam packed weeks ahead, I believe these speak volumes to how we each determine the most important priorities for ourselves and our families. Very well written, and I only wish I could give credit to the one who penned them -- alas, that person remains anonymous to me at this time. Should I learn of the source I will certainly share with you. Perhaps there lies more precious wisdom from this same individual. Insulate yourself from the killing pace of change. Granted, we have to keep up when it comes to business, but do we really need to strive to have the latest and greatest in all aspects of our lives? My answer is no. We don’t have to be trendy in every aspect of our lives to keep up. On the contrary, you’ll find it easier to run at the front of the pack if you keep your life simple, and if you keep in touch with who you are and where you’ve come, rather than what ...

With Thanksgiving just over two weeks away, even the anticipation of Holiday Stress and Depleted Energy may have you singing the blues, while rejoicing would be so much more appropriate. Skimming through a Natural Health magazine this morning with much to say about simplifying your holiday celebrations to be truly celebrations, I read of many suggestions on how to do this. Most of us would be wise to heed the ideas of smaller morning meaningful celebrations and rethinking our expectations of the perfect holiday. Even with the best intentions in place, the season just naturally adds some stress to and depletes energy from our lives. Taking time to relax and enjoy life are so important in the midst of the busyness of the season. Being a reflexologist, one of my thoughts as I read through the article was the idea that reflexology reduces stress and promotes energy. In fact, some have said they believe that a 30-60 minute nap (and this happens often) during a reflexology session is the equ...

Friday, October 26, I posted a quote, mentioning how appropriate it was for life in my little part of the world recently. . . . it was amazing to see how quickly God came through in one area for our family. As I was posting Richard Cecil's quote, "God denies a Christian nothing, but with a design to give him something better," my son and daughter-in-law had just been handed some very grim news about their chances of having a family. After praying for and attempting to begin a family for the past year and a half with no success, they chose to work with a fertility specialist. They had prayed for a clear cut answer, and they believed they were prepared for whatever news they received. Mentally, I believe they were ready. When they arrived in Nashville four years ago (and that's another "God" story) my son, a free-lance video-editor, was working on a project for Shaohanna's Hope . Shaohanna's Hope is an organization founded by Steven Curtis Chapman and ...

Starbucks isn't my obsession, but I do enjoy a great cup of Joe. Taking in the aroma as it brews, and cradling that warm cup in my hand while savoring that first sip . . . . and my morning is off to its grand start. Recently, I've been considering the health benefits of some tea varieties. . . . all those anti-oxidants, and I've even seen some info on tea's aid in weight loss. My current caffeine laden jolt of choice certainly offers none of those. What's more, I think often to a very enlightening scenario in my kitchen a few years back. Allow me to share. Those programmable coffee makers . . . . you know the ones, and there's a good chance if you drink the dark liquid you own one as well. We loved the great benefit of the aroma wafting through the house each morning as we began to awaken to the new day ahead. . . . a wonderful experience until the morning I found coffee all over the counter, the cabinets and the floor. It seems I had not placed the carafe perfe...

Reflexology -- a topic mentioned in more than one of my posts, and certainly the main topic of the one published earlier today -- but just exactly what is reflexology???? Happy Feet? -- Maybe, but read on. . . One of the definitions we learned in class goes like this: Reflexologists understand that the entire body is mirrored on the feet and hands. Foot and hand reflexology is a scientific art based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all body parts. The physical act of applying specific pressures using thumb, finger, and hand techniques results in stress reduction which causes physiological changes in the body. A primary benefit of reflexology is relaxation. Relaxation through reflexology may help the body to balance any kind of stress it is experiencing.* Reflexology has been around for centuries. The use of this technique, especially in our western culture, all but disappeared. In the early 1900's new "discoveries...

FOOTSTEPS IN EDEN is NOW OPEN! . . . . or at least it will be officially according to business license records etc. on Nov. 1. That's tomorrow! WOW!!! My feelings about this range somewhere between euphoric, numb, excited, is this really happening? to anti-climatic, and just about anywhere else along the track of highs and lows that roller coaster travels. Adventures and misadventures of all kinds filled this two year journey. That first year I researched, surveyed, and researched some more, making absolutely certain that I would have the very best training and also be in compliance with my state's rules and regulations. Last November I traveled to Boca Raton, lived for ten days with someone I had never met, and completed the basic reflexology course requirements. We were to meet again in February to complete the advanced training and prepare for our 100+ hour practical experience at home with family and friends. In May after three delays, the small class was back together ...

This quote arrived in my inbox this morning. It certainly speaks loudly and clearly to recent activity in my little world. Pray it might be encouragement to you today, as well. God denies a Christian nothing, but with a design to give him something better. -- Richard Cecil

Thought I would take the opportunity today to share with you about one of my favorite links: LITERACY LAUNCHPAD . What a relaxing, enjoyable, nurturing and growing opportunity it is to share books with children. Amy created Literacy Launchpad for children in daycare centers in the Nashville, TN area. She reads with the children, encouraging them to love books and reading, promoting what she believes will be a life long adventure in and love of reading. In her blog, Amy shares about the children, the books they read, the activities that bring the book selections to life, and makes many recommendations for bringing similar experiences to life with your children. She would love to meet you on her blog, and you might like to checkout her website where you can learn more about the LITERACY LAUNCHPAD EXPERIENCE in the Nashville area. Children, parents, and Ms. Amy visited the Literacy Launchpad's October Scarecrow, Reid Tome, at Cheekwood Gardens earlier this month. It was a great adven...

I am aware of more than one person that has recently struggled or continues to struggle with staph infections. These and other mysterious superbugs have become exceedingly resistant to anti-biotics. Articles like the ones below are popping up all over the country. This problem is especially prevalent with children and young people. Many have found by experience that the newly introduced and long-awaited INNER DEFENSE from Young Living™ may be a worthy weapon in the battle. High School Football Player in Medically Induced Coma to Fight Mysterious Bacteria. GROVE CITY, OHIO -- Football captain Justin Laborce remains in Children's Hospital, slowly but surely recovering from a mysterious illness that apparently has been stabilized, but still hasn't been diagnosed. Laborce's symptoms are consistent with that of a staph infection, but doctors have yet to confirm it as the cause of his illness.” -- The Columbus Dispatch, September 22, 2007 Michigan Catholic School Evacuated A...

Our Sunday Morning Bible study group was assigned the book RELATIONAL CHRISTIANITY. Reading through just the first couple of chapters I saw an immediate link to some truths God continues to impress upon me, especially as I have ventured into the field of reflexology. In the book, author Steve Meeks focuses on the facts of how much we know about God. It's the way our western minds are programmed. We know so much about how to have an intimate realtionship with Him -- one that brings true joy and peace and love into our lives in an experiential way. We know all the how tos and truths of it, but do we experience the relationship with Him in our lives? Having studied reflexology in depth over the past year I saw some very really analogies. When a client chose to submit to my touch on their feet, most often they only knew about what it might be like, but had not had this particular experience before. As the client experiences the caring touch they choose to return because of the benefits...

One discovery I made in a journey full of adventure and misadventure over the past 11 months was Certified Organic Cosmetics. A fellow reflexology student in Florida introduced me to this wonderful company out of Australia. Of course, the organic aspect was the hook for me to look closer. What I have found and share with others is a great line of skin care, body care, cosmetics, and more from this emerging leader now moving into the U.S. market. The company is miessence . Please have a look around. If you love the organic idea, I know you will be as excited as I am about their products. It's always exciting to find products that we use everyday that are wonderful and healthy for ourselves and for our planet. Miessence and the other OneGroup product lines have all measured up to their claims. What's more this company offers their products through a wonderful home-based business opportunity .

True pure AROMATHERAPY has limitless possibilities for health and wellness. We keep so many of these in our home, that most people are delighted and intrigued by the beautiful aromas when they enter. While we love the mingling of the aromas, we also diffuse specific essential oils for individual needs. One of my very favorites is Peace & Calming®. This proprietary blend of essential oils includes tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli and blue tansy. This gentle blend often helps calm tensions and uplift the spirit, promoting relaxation and a deep sense of peace. That sounds like tranquility to me. Find a wide variety of styles and great prices on some excellent diffusers

"A tranquil heart is life to the body, but contention is rottenness to the bones." King Solomon, 900's B.C. It's so easy in our instant gratification age with all of its stress syndromes and hurry sicknesses to believe these words of King Solomon must have really been penned in our 21st Century information age. This wisest ever of men, also shared his belief that, "There is nothing new under the sun." All of that 3,000 years ago. Stress then, as now, must have been at the core of much that ailed mankind. Looking for a thought to share with my reflexology clients, led me to this verse. Then I wondered: Just what does a tranquil heart look like? How do we arrive at our own place of tranquility of body, mind & spirit? How do we escape (or at least minimize) the contentions and stresses of life that are 'rottenness to the bones'? More questions: Where do the stressors end? How do we respond to them in a healthy way that says: I stand today in a place...