Every end has a new beginning…

Every end has a new beginning…

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1

This is only the end before the new beginning. This has always been about the character of God which is love as revealed by the ultimate sacrifice of Christ Jesus to redeem man back into the family of God, the fellowship of angels and the communion with unfallen worlds. While most of the human race on Earth live and age, work the stress cycles of life just to maintain their existence, give birth and die, and never grasp the meaning of their existence or reach their ultimate potential or radiate source love- there has always been a plan for the human race to lift man beyond his complacent vision of himself to greater glories. God is a journey of existential meaning and source love. Only when the soul is emptied of self can it be filled with something infinitely more valuable. Our time of Earth trials is described by the Bible as the birth pangs that will induce a new world. Before us, lies the chance to live forever in a world imbued by love and brotherhood, with no crime, death or any of the imperfections that now blight the human existence as auguries of gloom. Behold a place of light where divine joy is exponential instead of earthly anguish- and where the human body will shed its frailties and grow-up in the fullness and stature of Christ. The body shall never tire, thirst or be wearied for want of sleep. There is no night there and the time which now enfolds our world in entropy will be no more. All memories of this past life and the dreary days of agony that marked Earth’s final passing will be wiped from the mind. God himself shall wipe away all tears from their eyes…’and there shall be no more death, sorrow, nor crying…for the former things are passed away.” Every trace of sin, death and anywhere the forces of the Earth have left marks of her violent temperament is to be forever eradicated from human sight. Alas, the recreated Earth shall be seen as the pure lumen from space, sparkling with the colorful hues she was designed to radiate! Light shall clothe the children of purity in the new world and the universe, and its myriad unknown worlds will be their study into the blissful rolling moments of uncountable millenniums. The joy that comes from sharing this vision of the future only becomes more radiant as the world grows darker.  –The Extinction Protocol

Scientists bewildered by mass migration of snowy owls from the Arctic

Scientists bewildered by mass migration of snowy owls from the Arctic 
Posted on January 28, 2012
 January 28, 2012 – SALMON, Idaho – Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of snowy owls from the Arctic winging into the lower 48 states this winter in a mass southern migration that a leading owl researcher called “unbelievable.” Thousands of the snow-white birds, which stand 2 feet tall with 5-foot wingspans, have been spotted from coast to coast, feeding in farmlands in Idaho, roosting on rooftops in Montana, gliding over golf courses in Missouri and soaring over shorelines in Massachusetts. A certain number of the iconic owls fly south from their Arctic breeding grounds each winter but rarely do so many venture so far away even amid large-scale, periodic southern migrations known as irruptions. “What we’re seeing now — it’s unbelievable,” said Denver Holt, head of the Owl Research Institute in Montana. “This is the most significant wildlife event in decades,” added Holt, who has studied snowy owls in their Arctic tundra ecosystem for two decades. Holt and other owl experts say the phenomenon is likely linked to lemmings, a rodent that accounts for 90 percent of the diet of snowy owls during breeding months that stretch from May into September. The largely nocturnal birds also prey on a host of other animals, from voles to geese. An especially plentiful supply of lemmings last season likely led to a population boom among owls that resulted in each breeding pair hatching as many as seven offspring. Mystery of great migration: "That compares to a typical clutch size of no more than two", Holt said. 
Greater competition this year for food in the Far North by the booming bird population may have then driven mostly younger, male owls much farther south than normal. Research on the animals is scarce because of the remoteness and extreme conditions of the terrain the owls occupy, including northern Russia and Scandinavia, he said. The surge in snowy owl sightings has brought birders flocking from Texas, Arizona and Utah to the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, pouring tourist dollars into local economies and crowding parks and wildlife areas. The irruption has triggered widespread public fascination that appears to span ages and interests.”For the last couple months, every other visitor asks if we’ve seen a snowy owl today,” said Frances Tanaka, a volunteer for the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Olympia, Washington. But accounts of emaciated owls at some sites — including a food-starved bird that dropped dead in a farmer’s field in Wisconsin — suggest the migration has a darker side. And Holt said an owl that landed at an airport in Hawaii in November was shot and killed to avoid collisions with planes. He said snowy owl populations are believed to be in an overall decline, possibly because a changing climate has lessened the abundance of vegetation like grasses that lemmings rely on. This winter’s snowy owl outbreak, with multiple sightings as far south as Oklahoma, remains largely a mystery of nature. “There’s a lot of speculation. As far as hard evidence, we really don’t know,” Holt said. 
–Yahoo News, Reuters

Red Quinoa Salad

Kind Lifer Diana submitted this yummy looking recipe from the Culinary Institute of America. It originally calls for fish sauce, but you can veganize it by using Mam Nem Chay - Vietnamese vegetarian fish sauce - instead. If you can’t find any at your local grocer, you can improvise with a mix of light soy sauce, a splash of pineapple juice, a bit of agave and a splash of chili sauce. I haven’t tried this, but I can’t wait to hear what you think! ~Alicia Silverstone

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients 

For Quinoa

• 2 cups of Cooked red quinoa, about 1.5 cups raw
• 2-3 slices of ginger
• 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon of sliced scallions
• 1 tablespoon of torn mint leaves
• 1/4 cups of winter squash, diced into small pieces

For nuoccham sauce

• 3 tablespoons of vegan fish sauce
• 1/4 cups of lime juice
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of vegan brown sugar or 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• 1/2 Thai chili, paper thin sliced (use whole chili for some spice)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss squash with with a bit of olive oil and pinch of curry powder and roast until just done.
3. Meanwhile, bring 1 1/2 cups water to boil. Add a pinch of salt, ginger slices and quinoa, and cover. Simmer until done, about 15 min.
4. Make nuoc cham sauce by mixing fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, thai chili & water.
5. Toss quinoa, cooked squash, scallions, cilantro, and mint with nuoc cham sauce.
6. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Arthritis: Foods Not To Eat

Arthritis: Foods Not To Eat

An improper balanced diet and faulty consumption of specific foods may lead you to the disease called Arthritis. Read more on arthritis: foods not to eat.

Arthritis by definition refers to the inflammation of a joint or joints, the wear and tear of them, muscle strain and scaling down of the physical abilities in doing daily work. Such limitations can hamper various activities that you ideally do. The main complaint that individuals suffering from arthritis hold, is massive pain in parts of the body such as muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments leading the patients to vulnerable aches, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Often specifying the actual cause of arthritis can be difficult because it is based upon several factors like genetic mechanism, obesity in the hips and knees, bored infection in the joints or increase in age or even a stressful life. But one of the roots of this occurrence is an ill-balanced diet. Food might just lure your mouth having the thought of different savory flavors. But consuming food in any amount does not sound rational. A well-balanced diet is ideally essential for any living body. It significantly provides you with all the necessary nutrients that your body needs, so that it can maintain a healthy body weight. Here, we will understand the role one's diet plays in treating arthritis. Before we move to arthritis: foods not to eat, you can take a quick look at arthritis diet cure.

Arthritis Diet: Foods Not To Eat

Initially making some changes in your diet may be highly annoying and limiting because you will no longer be feeding on the kind of food you have been consuming for a long time. But making these dietary changes will relieve you of your pain and subside arthritis within weeks, or less. So if you want to make a positive change to your health, you must know which foods to avoid with arthritisand how.

Avoid Oils: The primary keep-off type of food is the one containing omega-6 fatty acids (which are one of the essential fatty acids). These fatty acids are found in vegetable oils, margarine, sunflower, corn and safflower oil. The Omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation of the joints and increase body weight. (It is understood that entirely nullifying the intake of these acids via food is not suggested, all you have to do is, consume them to a lesser extent.) On the contrary arthritis foods to eat include omega 3 fatty acids, because they play a crucial role in brain function and in the normal growth of the body. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis. In short it demotes inflammation by preventing the arterial walls of the heart from various blood clots and fat deposition. Thus it is advisable to avoid all fried-foods and switch over to a diet which has olive-oil and canola oil as the food's base material.

Avoid High-Fat Foods: Some foods have unsaturated fatty acids, especially baked foods, fatty meat which include red meat, pork, poultry, etc. And also various dairy products like cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, cow's milk, etc are high fat foods. All these constituents are really not the foods to eat with arthritis because it will aggravate this disease all the more. Running some clinical trials on the other hand, it is said that consumption of at least 70 grams of meat protein a day is not going to do much harm. And also real butter, cream and eggs are known to be a perfect anti-arthritis foods to eat, and can hence be included in an anti-arthritis diet.

Eliminate Nightshade Vegetables: Some reports have proven that consumption of vegetables like potatoes, capsicums, chili-peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes aggravates arthritis. These vegetables consist of alkaloid which stimulates nerve pain, chronic joint and muscle pain. Thus these vegetables cannot be made a part of an arthritis diet. However, arthritis foods to eat include garlic, onions and leafy vegetables. Including them in your daily diet can help you achieve joint pain relief.

Follow a Low-Salt Diet: Salt consists of sodium and the consumption of it causes water retention in the body. When the body retains water, it strains the joints and muscles and puts excessive pressure on them resulting in a swell. Hence, try to reduce your salt intake if you are an arthritis patient. Instead of salt you can use low-sodium salt or seasonings. Salt-free seasonings are readily available at the food market. You can choose foods from this low sodium foods list and make them a part of your diet.

Avoid Sugared Fruits: Adding to the arthritis: foods not to eat, you can compactly have fruits and beverages as a disapproval too. Consumption of fruits for people suffering from arthritis can be edgy enough. The reason being the sweetness and sugar content in different fruits. Fruits like strawberries, bananas, peaches, oranges, pineapple, pears, and melons of any kind should not be on your list at least not until your pain is better off. Good fruits like grapefruit, kiwi-fruit, berries can be an alternative though and well be included in your arthritis diet plan.

Avoid Drinks: Similarly flipping over to caffeinated beverages and aerated drinks namely soft drinks, soda, coffee, tea should not be an arthritis patient's choice. Intake of caffeine to a limit increases stress in the body, thus its recommended not to drink coffee and tea. Anything that says 'diet', 'decaffeinated' or 'Lite' is not good for arthritis patients. It is suggested that drinking more than one cup coffee a day is hazardous to health. Instead drinking 8 glasses of water with a lemon squeezed to add taste would serve you the purpose on any summer day.

Remember one thing; we will only be able to defeat arthritis as long as we have a clean immune system and strictly monitor our diet by keeping an account of all these guidelines, monitoring our eating habits and reminding ourselves repeatedly of the arthritis: foods not to eat. I am sure, familiarizing with this kind of a diet is going to help you for your own good. After all, it is in your hands to keep your health. And If you still cannot resist certain food items, try pinching yourself the next time you think of even going close to them. Just don't do it too hard..!!

By Fatima Rangwala

Last Updated: 9/26/2011

Fibromyalgia: What to Eat, What Not to Eat

Fibromyalgia: What to Eat, What Not to Eat

If you're living with fibromyalgia, your food choices could be making your pain worse. There's no one-diet-fits-all plan, but limiting certain items might help.

By Jennifer Acosta Scott
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Many people with fibromyalgia know the importance of taking it easy when pain flares. But it’s less well-known that specific food items and ingredients may worsen your fibromyalgia pain or other fibromyalgia symptoms. According to a recent dietary survey of 101 fibromyalgia patients published in Rheumatology International, about 7 percent had food allergies or intolerances, and 30 percent had made changes in their diet to help their condition.
While there is no specific diet recommended for fibromyalgia treatment, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist in San Francisco, poor food choices can indirectly affect fibromyalgia.
“Fibromyalgia sufferers seem to have too much of a dependence on comfort foods, especially if they are finding it hard to exercise regularly,” Batayneh says. “This can lead to weight gain, and being overweight or obese can make your symptoms worse.”
Check out this list of questionable foods for fibromyalgia, along with healthier alternatives.

Aspartame.
This artificial sweetener, also known by the brand names Equal and NutraSweet, is used to sweeten certain beverages, yogurts, frozen desserts, and other foods without adding calories. There have been case reports linking aspartame to fibromyalgia. In one of these, a 50-year-old woman who had been living with fibromyalgia for 10 years experienced improvement of her painful symptoms when she vacationed in a foreign country and did not use aspartame. However, her symptoms reappeared when she returned home and began aspartame use again. In the other instance, a 45-year-old man found that his forearm, wrist, hand, and cervical pain stopped when he discontinued aspartame use.
More research is needed to confirm these findings, but it may be a wise idea to avoid aspartame if you have fibromyalgia. Try using a small amount of natural sugar instead. You can even add beets to some dishes for a touch of sweetness. If you must use artificial sweeteners, try using sucralose, which is calorie-free and derived from sugar.

Caffeine.
It may be tempting to combat fibromyalgia symptoms like fatigue with a steady dose of coffee or cola drinks, but caffeine can interfere with your ability to get restful sleep — a big factor in minimizing painful fibromyalgia symptoms. A Norwegian study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism also suggests that sleep problems may actually play a role in fibromyalgia development. If you enjoy drinking caffeinated beverages, consume them during the first half of the day only to minimize sleep problems.

Sugar. 
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate, a substance that provides energy for the body, and this often appeals to people whose fibromyalgia leaves them fatigued. However, too much sugar can pack on the pounds, leaving fibro patients in even more pain. An article in the Journal of Pain found that obese fibromyalgia patients suffer more severe symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and sleep problems. If you’re craving something sweet, Batayneh says, go for something with natural sugars, like a piece of fruit.

MSG and sodium nitrite. 
These substances are used as preservatives and flavor enhancers in many processed foods, such as cured meats and sauces. They are also full of salt, which can aggravate pain or swelling in some fibromyalgia patients. To minimize the impact of MSG and nitrites on your fibromyalgia, avoid prepackaged foods as much as possible and focus on whole foods like lentils, brown rice, and fish.

Dairy. 
Many people, whether or not they have fibromyalgia, are lactose-deficient and have bloating and gas that can slow them down after they drink milk or eat dairy products. Try eliminating milk-based products from your diet for a few weeks to see whether your symptoms improve. If you do feel better, seek out calcium-rich dairy alternatives, like soy milk, as well as salmon, broccoli, and tuna.

Gluten. 
Celiac disease, which is an intolerance to the gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye products, is a condition that may overlap with fibromyalgia in some people. There is no reason to eliminate gluten from your diet unless your doctor diagnoses you with gluten intolerance, but if you would like to try doing so, eliminate traditional pastas, breads, and grains. You can substitute gluten-free alternatives, such as those made with rice or corn. Note that many sauces, marinades, and even candies may contain gluten.
To see whether any or all of these foods affect your fibromyalgia symptoms, consider eliminating them one at a time and keeping a journal to note any improvement. If you find yourself cutting them all out, consider working with a nutritionist to develop a healthy diet that won’t cause your fibro to flare.

Tonight's Supper - Veggie Plate

I boiled diced potatoes in sea-salt water and olive oil for 15 minutes, then baked them at 400 for 25 minutes in olive oil, oregano, basil, sea-salt and blk. pepper, stirring every 10 minutes or so... along side of Asparagus in olive oil, crushed fresh garlic, oregano, basil, sea-salt and blk. pepper.
Black beans with chopped green onion.
Straight, cold Cranberry Juice.

 YUMZ!

Tree Poem by Joyce Kilmer & photos of The Tree of Life

~Joyce Kilmer

 I think that I shall never see
 A poem lovely as a tree.
 A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
 Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
 A tree that looks at God all day,
 And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
 A tree that may in Summer wear
 A nest of robins in her hair;
 Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
 Who intimately lives with rain.
 Poems are made by fools like me,
 But only God can make a tree.

_________________________________

 The Tree of Life : )

Thirty One was on Good Morning America's Deals & Steals this morning : )

You can be a customer, Hostess a party or enroll and be a Consultant of these fine products!
‎31 is known for their organization totes, backpacks and purses, but they also make "little" items too like stationary, notepads, greeting cards, coasters, coin purses, eyeglass cases, straight iron cases, address labels, Gift Certificates, aprons, umbrellas, picnic blankets, money clip wallets for the guys, jewelry rolls, luggage tags, key fobs, manicure sets/emery boards, compact mirrors, rosettes and scarves!

www.MyThirtyOne.com/PAS

GMA was talking about getting ready for the Super Bowl using things from different companies and from 31 there was the Picnic Thermal Tote, Market Thermal Tote, Large Utility Tote: Carry beverages, dips, chips and special dishes to the Super Bowl party. Included in this deal is a Picnic Thermal total that holds up to three, 2 liter bottles of soda or two six packs. The Thermal protective lining is great to carry hot or cold food and keep the food at the perfect temperature. The Market Thermal Tote can be used to carry 36 cans or even that hot cheese deep or wings. The Large Utility Tote is a great carry-all for just about anything.

Tonight's supper - Shrimp

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This was awesome : )
I set some brown rice to cook in a pot with sea-salt and a bayleaf (I was out of chicken broth).
I shelled and rinsed the shrimp and added it to a large pan in which was cooking freshly chopped garlic & olive oil. I then added basil, oregano, sea-salt & black pepper, and set it all to the side after shrimp was done.
I added rinsed black beans, chopped green onion and chopped tomato 2 minutes before adding the brown rice and stirring slowly but well.

TIME TO EAT!

Zach: it was fantastic!
(I didn't even ask him!)

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BUTTER PECAN CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE WITH NUTMEG FROSTING

Now yall go make and eat this for me because I aint touchin it... but I just HAD to share it! LOL
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BUTTER PECAN CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE WITH NUTMEG FROSTING
Posted on February 17, 2011 by The Southern Lady

This is a great cake to serve to family and friends or just anytime you want a great dessert.

1 Super Moist Butter Pecan Cake Mix
1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling
2 large eggs
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup nuts, chopped (I used walnuts)
2/3 cup butterscotch chips

In a large bowl mix cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, margarine, and water. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread batter in a sprayed 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle butterscotch chips over batter. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Nutmeg Frosting:

1 can rich and creamy vanilla frosting
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

Put frosting out into a glass dish or pitcher. Add vanilla flavoring and nutmeg. Microwave on high about 30 seconds. Remove and mix well with wire whisk. Pour over cake. Add more nuts on top if desired.

Sunday / Monday Meals

Yesterday's lunch for me was simply a protein bar and shake since I wasn't real hungry.
Mom made shrimp creole last last, and I made a salad.
This morning's breakfast for me is Organic Flax Plus cereal, strawberries and Bing cherries.
My quick lunch/snack at work will be the protein bar & shake.
Supper... not sure yet, craving chicken tenders in olive oil and spices with quinoa...?

More on my new way of eating

As a reminder to you folks, I am slowly adding new things to my diet from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, and I have really enjoyed trying new foods, or a new way of making things I had already tried. Even Zach is (dare I say) loving the new foods!
Last night I made a broiled chicken dish with powdered ginger, sea salt, black pepper, olive oil, soy sauce, & tumeric.
Roasted asparagus in oilive oil, lemon juice and crushed garlic (it was the major hit of the night for such a simple dish, and we poured the juice over the next item LOL)Red Quinoa toasted in a saucepan for a few moments in olive oil, then boiled in chicken broth, and left to sit on simmer for 25 minutes.
Unfortunately, I was so buy making all that, getting the table set and everything ready, I forgot to take a photo of everything! Well, it was so awesome, nothing was left! Zach and Mike (no joke) were swirling their forksfuls of chicken in the asparagus oil! Mike has told me he's impressed with how I have been getting better over the past couple of years with cooking. Some things I make up myself, and for other things I use other people's recipes, and then tweak them to my own tastes.

Today, Zach begged me to make more asparagus for lunch "the exact same way but with extra juice", and quinoa to pour the juice over! So to fill us up and give us more protein and veggies, I boiled blackeyed peas, California veggies, and mushrooms, then made a pan of quinoa, while the asparagus cooked in the oven. When it was all ready, the asparagus was put on the bottom of the bowl, the beans & veggies were drained, and the quinoa was poured & mixed into the veggies mix. That was poured over the asparagus. The remainder of the asparagus juice was poured over all. He wolfed it down! OK, I wolfed it down too! LOL
(I had forgotten to add that I also made a squash casserole last night)
Can't wait to try the next set of recipies!

EarKandyEarrings

My new way, continued - dinner

This was so good! Steamed veggies (California blend) with my combo of kosher & seasalt, oregano, and a very small pat of butter. I learned to eat the grapes last, as they were sweeter than the Bing cherries. Not hungry at all. This was 2 hours ago!

Redbox

Redbox: Thanks, Redbox, for my free DVD rental! Visit http://on.fb.me/tfREAF to play the Movie Awards Game and a chance to win Redbox rentals!

Starting a new way to eat - yes, again

I received Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet from the library the other day, skimmed a few pages, and was so impressed, moved and excited, that I bid on a copy on ebay! (And won it and paid for it already!)

So I have SLOWLY been buying better-for-me foods like more grains, beans, fish, veggies, very little fruits, etc. Today I had a wonderful large salad with grilled chicken and cucumbers. It was so large, I didn't eat supper. I will have some steamed, herbed veggies later and some grapes or Bing cherries for dessert.