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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

AFSP 5K SLC

As many of you know, I am an active supporter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and have been since I lost my brother to suicide 2 years ago this month. I have done 5K's in Boca Raton and Miami, the 20 mile overnight in New York City, and now am helping to establish resources for the community here in Utah.

We are hoping to gain the support of people all across the Wasatch front and after a successful 5k in September establish a chapter here in the state of Utah that will raise awareness and increase preventative efforts by educating Jr. high and high school aged kids, educating physicians to recognize and deal with those who are suffering from mental illness and are at risk to take their own life, and to have a survivor outreach program for those that have lost loved ones to suicide.

My goal this year is much less that last year simply because I don't have the time to invest in fundraising and am spending much more time on administrative things as event chair.

PLEASE REGISTER AND PARTICIPATE WITH US!!!
http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.createProfile&source=R

Even if you are in college and donating will not be your strong point, there is no minimum donation--we would love for you to be there!!!

Or, if you'd rather, you can donate to me or any of my team members:
http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=606&participantID=4120

I wouldn't be a part of this if it weren't a good cause. The majority of our board are not members of the LDS faith, and they moved it from general conference weekend to September 27th to accommodate those of my faith in this valley--and I would love for them to see how wonderful the support can be :) People that I go to school with will be there giving massages and we will have many door prizes and a great atmosphere.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR GOOD!

For more information:
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

"The Trial of Our Faith Precedes Salvation..."

Have you ever wondered why life is hard? Have you had the occasion to wonder if you could handle the severity of the trial at hand? Have you ever thought that you just couldn't endure one more hardship? Does it ever seem that the night is just too dark, or felt buried by financial or social pressures? How about life not going the way you had hoped or planned?

I have.

And, well, for a long time I've thought that meant that I was weak... but I am coming to realize that it really just means I am human. Everyone experiences pain and heartache, disappointment and loss, joy and happiness. I looked around my classroom at UCMT today, and I realized that there is not 1 person in there that isn't going through something hard--death of a loved one, morning sickness, financial setbacks, broken hearts and relationships, issues with their children, friends, spouses, insomnia, illness, drug addiction...and we already lost 1 to suicide. I realize this is a very small sample from the human race... but nonetheless...everyone is up against some major opposition.

This week I have just felt tired and sad and overwhelmed.
Relationships
Last week I followed the feelings in my heart and mind to end the relationship I was in...with someone I care a great deal about. In order for me to maintain healthy boundaries, I remain quite detached from my family of origin. I did survive the 2 year anniversary of my brother's suicide this month and feel very grateful to God for making that possible. And other than that... I am so busy I don't really have time for deep and meaningful relationships right now.
Finances
I would be lying if I said that finances was a strong point for me... it is an area in which I have plenty of room to improve. Being aware of that I budgeted out the year--since I am in a full-time (60hr/week) program including anatomy, physiology, pathology--and sciences are not my strong point...well... seeing as this is my first year on a real budget...appropriately it is my first year being in a car accident...didn't budget for that one. I made it through the past few months by the mercy of God and a whole handful of miracles *next blog* but with only 11 weeks left in my program... I feel like I am drowning.
Service
I love to serve...sometimes to a fault. I am always very willing to serve and I rarely say no (although I am improving in that area of my life as well.) I currently serve as the chair for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for the State of Utah--with a 5k coming up in September--PLEASE JOIN US :) I serve in the Provo Utah Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was recently released from my second term as president of my branch of the largest women's organization in the world--the Relief Society...
Education
With only 11 weeks of my program left...I am tired. We have 8 finals this week and projects and protocols due in every class. There are so many administrative problems at our campus that it can be very frustrating when you have paid to attain an education and some of them prevent learning and development.
Spirituality
Now this is probably the only dimension enabling me to hold on amid all the trials and testings and exhaustion... and don't get me wrong...when I say spirituality I mean very specifically my relationship with God, who I know to be my Father in Heaven, and his Son Jesus Christ. I don't mean LDS culture, or Utah County expectations, or singles ward (my college age congregation) activities, I mean where I stand before God. It is communicating with God through prayer, receiving guidance from him as I study the scriptures, it is feeling peace in my heart and a transcending love that I know only he can impart--it is a reason to get up and go everyday--and it helps me cultivate and maintain a desire and capacity to live--and do so with joy.

With the many dimensions and stresses in my life--both eustress and distress--there are times when I would like to give up. Times when I have a tendency to ask why life is so hard, if I can handle the severity of the trials at hand, if I endure one more hardship, if the night really is too dark, of to feel I'm buried beneath financial, social, educational stress, and to become frustrated that life just isn't going as I'd hoped or planned... this week it was hard to see beyond the trials. I just kept telling myself--I can do anything for 11 weeks--but there were times I doubted even that...

So I pulled out my scriptures...almost as a last resort I was so overwhelmed--nearing desperation and possibly even teetering toward apathy...

1 Peter Chapter one: The trial of our faith precedes salvation--Christ foreordained to be the redeemer.
As I read the words of an apostle of Jesus Christ, starting in verse 7: "that the trial of your faith, being more precious than of Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory..." and then in verse 13: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children..."

I don't know why my friend has cancer, I don't know why my dream of getting married and raising a family is being postponed, I don't understand why paralyzing illness or abuse has touched my life, I don't know how long I will grieve the loss of my brother, I don't know what it is that I am supposed to be learning right now--in fact there is so much that I don't have answers to...but I know that God lives. I know that he loves me, and with his ability to see the past from the future, the end from the beginning...if he sees a refining purpose in this trial, if my faith in His ability and power unto deliverance will increase...then I will endure.

I'm not really sure why I am throwing this out to the universe, maybe that some other person who maybe struggling can find hope in Peter's words, and purpose in affliction...Maybe to cause me to look at the other side, and better articulate all the blessings that God has placed in my life, or all the growth and strength that results--or even just in admission that regardless of standards or status, I am human and I do struggle and to cut myself some slack...even just in acknowledgement that I don't understand all these things, and I lack a great deal of strength and wisdom, but I trust in God.

Monday, July 21, 2008

I PROMISE TO POST...

Just think...at the very latest...I graduate in 12 weeks... I can post then...?

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Beautiful Utah Outdoors!

Fun Photos w/ the Kids!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My Experience w/ The Master Cleanse...

I just haven't felt as good as I would like lately. I came home with 15lbs extra baggage as a missionary, and have just kept adding to it. I really like to cook (which doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing ;) but I tend to eat non-nutrient dense foods--aka junk--when stressed out, AND it is time I do something about that. Other than the sweets--I tend to follow very well what I learned in my food science nutrition classes here at BYU. In order to reward myself for this cleanse... WHEN I make it through days 1 & 2 I am going to have a manicure (I was given a gift certificate for one but have been saving it :) After days 3 & 4 I am going to have a facial and have my eyebrows waxed :) and when I make it through all 10 days I am going to have a body wrap done :D Thanks to Jeri--who has her own spa treatment and just finished the cleanse today!

For those of you who know me--I am not a dieter--at all; however, I live a very active lifestyle--running, biking, skiing, hiking, swimming etc. I want my body inline with the life that I live. I am hiking Mt. Timp before the summer is over, I want to return to Cinque Terre, and would love to hike every peak in the world. And so it is...

My thoughts after only a few hours on the cleanse...BOY how I am going to appreciate the Word Of Wisdom/Law of Health when this is over!!! AND the herbal tea and salt water drinks are so awful that I actually really appreciate the lemonade!

When life hands you lemons...cleanse..?
And, lastly... for those of you who wonder just what the master cleanse is:
LEMON DRINK for your Master Cleanse
you need:
2 tablespoons FRESH squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. 1/2 lemon)
2 tablespoons genuine organic maple syrup, Grade B (the darker the better)*
1/10 teaspoon (a small pinch!) cayenne pepper, gradually increase (the more BTUs the better)
300 - 500 ccm (10-14 oz) pure water
In a 300ccm (10-ounce) glass (to allow for 227ccm and mixing room): 2 tablespoons fresh (and organic, if possible) lemon or lime juice (absolutely no canned or frozen juice). 2 tablespoons real (and organic, if possible) grade B or C maple syrup. (Don't use Grade A maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup. They are over-refined, which means that they are mostly refined sugars and lack essential minerals.) A small pinch of cayenne pepper (to taste). Spring or purified water, between room temperature and medium hot (but not cold) – fill to 1/4 liter (8 oz). Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly stirring or shaking, and drink. Or, in two 1 liter bottles: Juice of 3 lemons, divided equally between the two bottles (about 85ccm or 3 oz per bottle) An equal quantity of grade B or C maple syrup in each bottle (about 85 ccm or 3 oz per bottle) A pinch of cayenne in each bottle Spring or purified water (fill bottles to the top) Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly shaking; then drink throughout the day. Use fresh lemons or limes only, never canned or frozen lemon juice. Use organic and vine ripened when possible. Also, mix your lemonade fresh just before drinking. Don't mix it up in the morning for the whole day. You can, however, squeeze your lemons in the morning and measure out the 2 tablespoons when needed.
* YL Clinic says you can use Agave instead of the maple syrup. Tom Woloshyn (who studied with Stanley Burroughs himself) disagrees. Clinic says if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia, use molasses. If you feel weak or have a sugar imbalance you can add a scoop of Power Meal. Or you can try Master Amino Acid Profile (MAP) for protein without any residuals or strain on the body ­ more info here: http:/www.weightlossessentials.com/aminoacid.html

SALT WATER FLUSH:
Drink an oral salt water enema upon arising. To do this, add 2 level teaspoons of uniodized sea salt to a quart of lukewarm water (the one-quart juice bottles in which most organic juices come work very well). Shake well, then drink the entire quart. It's also good to massage the colon as well. Make sure you use uniodized sea salt; regular or iodized salt will not have the same beneficial effect. This oral enema will flush out your entire digestive tract and colon from top to bottom, usually within an hour, prompting you to eliminate several times, clearing out the plaque and debris from the walls, and the parasites that have been living there.

Lemonade Drink:
Drink the lemonade mix every 1 to 2 hours. Take no other food, but do be sure to drink plenty of purified water in addition to the lemonade drink. Drink as much of this lemonade as you want, but make sure that you drink at least twelve 1/4 liter (8 oz) glasses. The lemonade contains all the vitamins and minerals you need. This can be combined with supplements for colon cleansing such as Bentonite or Psyllium Seeds. You don't have to start your fast on the morning of the first day. You can begin later in the day, even if you've already eaten. Once you begin, however, eat nothing more while you're on the fast. It's also a good idea to read Stanley Burrough's book, The Master Cleanser. Note: Diabetics, refer to the special instructions on page 19 of The Master Cleanser.

Note: Bentonite is the only product known to remove plaque from the walls of the intestine and colon. The plaque in your stool will look like egg shells on the outside of the bentonite "gel." Bentonite works most effectively when the colon is empty of food. It grabs the plaque which has been loosened by the lemon juice and the resting/fasting process. The salt water enema pushes out the bentonite gel and the plaque and debris that is stuck to it and in it. The salt water further cleanses the walls as it passes through, resulting in shiny clean walls.

Herbal Laxative:
Each evening you can drink an herbal laxative tea to help with elimination, do this right before bed time.

GOING OFF LEMONADE FAST
Burroughs recommends a minimum of 10 days on this. You can safely do 40 days or more.
First Day: Start with 4 oz. [1/8 liter] fresh squeezed orange juice mixed with 4 oz. water. If it goes well, drink several more 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of fresh orange juice during the day. Sip slowly. Dilute with water if needed.
Second Day: Drink several 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of orange juice during the day -- with extra water, if needed.

In the evening make a vegetable broth (no canned soup). Use seasonal leafy and root vegetables such as: beets and beet tops, turnips and turnip greens, kale, carrots, onions, parsley, celery, potatoes, okra, one or two inds of legumes, squash, beans, a little salt, cayenne pepper and dehydrated vegetables or veg. powder may be added for flavor (no MSG or hydrolyzed protein).
Cook lightly. Drink the broth, eating only a few bites of the vegetables.
Third Day: Orange juice in the morning. At noon have some more soup with some of the vegetables. No meat, fish, eggs, bread, pastries, tea, milk, or coffee. For Dinner, have the vegetables in the soup.
Fourth Day: Orange juice or lemon and maple syrup in the morning. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts for lunch. Salad or fruit for dinner.
Fifth Day: Eat normally but no junk food, dairy, tea, coffee, white flour or white rice, heavy animal proteins. If, after eating is resumed, distress or gas occurs, go back to the lemonade diet for a few days until the system is ready for food.
(Excerpt from "Healing for the Age of Enlightenment" by Stanley Burroughs -Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse - available through Essential Science Publishing.)

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Two People I Love...