Beautiful Utah Outdoors!

Fun Photos w/ the Kids!

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.)

Two People I Love...

The Protective Hand of the Lord in My Life...

Many thanks to all of you for your love and kindness this past week! For those of you who do not yet know... Thursday after my massage therapy classes I changed and rushed out the door for a meeting for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in SLC. I was traveling about 65mph Northbound on the 15, when the car 4 or 5 cars in front of me came to a complete stop. After throwing my car into second and slamming on the brakes as best i could...all I remember after that is what seemed to me to be a brick wall combine with a flash of metal and glass--and a lot of pain. My air bag didn't deploy and my seatbelt didn't lock until i was at a 45 degree angle...and by then it merely acted as a sling shot to propel my head forward into the steering wheel.

For those of you that have been in a car accident... you know much better than I did what to expect... I thought that the day after I would feel much better... boy was I WRONG. Friday was worse than Thursday and today was worse than all the others. Now that the muscles are cold and the shock has worn off... I hurt. I did get urgent care, and found that the cartilage got pulled from my ribs and sternum and that I strained all the muscles and tendons in my neck...at least there is a reason that I hurt, right?

Through it all, I feel that the hand of the Lord was truly reaching out to keep me safe in the accident, sending loving people to my side for aid, and granting blessings that I personally have needed to get through it all. While I still don't know how it will work out, I trust that the Lord knows me and is aware of my needs. I know that a way will be provided in my life.

I think the best part of it all has been feeling the Spirit of my brother Scott near me through it all--in the accident--when I've received blessings--and in the long pain filled hours since. To be honest... the accident and experience have been worth it just to feel him near. Immediately when I was in the accident that is who I wanted to call for help--the car expert, the one who wouldn't yell at me, the one who helped me the other times when I got hit. It is nice to know that when loved ones depart this mortal life it is not the end.

A special thanks to my Sister-in-law Laurel for her kindness right after the accident, to my quality roommates and loving people from the congregation I attend of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to all the many who have offered prayers in my behalf.
Before...After...

A Beautiful Easter Sunset!

This was the sunset that I watched Sunday from the park. I had plans with my sister-in-law, but something came up and she needed to reschedule, so I had a lot of time to myself. I felt such great peace as I pondered the depth and meaning of Easter. What does it mean to me? How is my life different because of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection?

I had the opportunity to speak in church this same Easter Sunday. I spoke on the personal application of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the joy that has come into my life through my individual relationship with Him. Maybe I will post my talk on here in the next couple of days...

There were so many ways in which I saw the hand of the Lord in my life this weekend, one of the best ski days of my life Saturday, with an old friend who never ceases to amaze me and even just being in his presence makes me want to be better--not to mention race to the bottom of the hill ;) I had the strength to work some of the longest days of my life last week and was able to get all my homework done early for the coming week. I had a great discussion with my bishop and really feel at peace with some new opportunities to serve. I was very blessed to see clearly some things in my life that have perplexed me lately... I love the Lord and feel so fortunate to have a covenant relationship with him that governs my choices, enables me with strength greater than my own, and gives me guidance and priorities in a world of confusion and distress.