“Rocky Mountain Oasis” an Inspiration

She’s been living in a desert all her life. Suddenly she’s come upon an oasis. But is it just a mirage?

Thus begins the premise for Lynnette Bonner’s new Christian Historical Romance, Rocky Mountain Oasis (published by OakTara).

I’ve had the pleasure of being Lynnette’s critique partner for more than a year now, and I’m pleased and proud to see her new book make its debut. Lynnette has been a blessing and an inspiration to me and I believe this,  Book One of The Shepherd’s Heart series, will have a similar impact on readers.

Brooke Marie Baker, eighteen, has been sent west as a mail-order bride. As the stage nears Greer’s Ferry, where she is to meet the man she’s pledged to marry, she tries to swallow the lump of nervousness in her throat. Can it be any worse than living with Uncle Jackson…or Hank? she wonders. All men are the same, aren’t they? But with her parents and sister dead, she has no choice.

 Sky Jordan, a rancher, holds a single, yellow daisy in his hand as he watches the ferry cross the river. Ever since he’d found out his surly cousin, Jason, had sent for a mail-order bride, his mind and heart had been ill at ease. No woman deserves to be left with the likes of Jason. But now he questions his own plans to claim the bride for himself. Why am I drawn to this woman I don’t even know?

 A wounded heart. Desperate choices. Unfathomable love. Set in the adventure and danger of the Wild West.

Lynnette does a wonderful job of capturing life in the Idaho Territory in 1885. I was drawn in from the start to the dangers that were a part of life for settlers a century ago. Still, her characters’ struggles are easy to relate to in a modern context. While the concept of a young woman being sold as a mail order bride is far from our contempory consciousness, we can relate to Brooke’s feelings about her experience. Does she dare let down her guard with her new husband, or should she steel herself against yet another abusive man?

As the relationship between Brooke and Sky deepens, the plot takes enough turns to keep us wondering if the two will even survive. A menacing villain sets his sights on Brooke just as she begins to trust Sky. Will Sky win her over to the Lord, or will she succomb to her own fear and the dangers that lurk in the darkness?   

“An intriguing tale with the perfect blend of suspense, drama, and romance. Best keep your eyes on Lynnette Bonner. She’s a gifted storyteller.” -SHARLENE MACLAREN, Author, Through Every Storm, Long Journey Home, Little Hickman Creek Series, The Daughters of Jacob Kane Series

To get a taste of Lynnette’s crisp storytelling, link to the first few chapters of the book: http://www.lynnettebonner.com/rmoexcerpt.pdf

 

Rocky Mountain Oasis is available at:

                Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Oasis-Lynnette-Bonner/dp/1602902143/ref=tag_cdp_ptcl_ edpp_url

               Christian Book: http://www.christianbook.com/1-rocky-mountain-oasis/lynnette-bonner/9781602902145/pd/90214 5?item_code=WW&netp_id=648328&event=ETRS&view=covers

Visit Lynnette’s website: http://lynnettebonner.com

 

Reversing Diabetes?

Raw Vegan Sushi

I have no problem believing that our diet has a significant impact on our health. I can even buy that a vegetarian diet might be ideal. But Raw? My personal jury is still out on that one. I confess my apprehension has a lot to do with my emotional attachment to food. Cooked food. Old habits die hard, and they do get in the way of my desire for change.

Still, my aching joints tell me my old ways are no longer serving me. How much evidence do I need that a raw diet is at least beneficial, if not all out optimal? I just heard about a new documentary called Simply Raw. It depicts the journey of six diabetics who go on a strict raw diet for a month. By the end of the 30 days…. well, don’t they say that type 2 diabetes is irreversible?

Don’t they say the same thing about arthritis?

Playing at Going Green

I know what I need to do.

Like lots of people my age and older, it’s getting harder for me to move. Arthritis has robbed me of my once-cherished ability to spring from the floor to a standing position free from pain. Sure, I can still manage to help an actor with a 30-second quick change that involves both shoes and hat, but it’s not as much fun as it used to be.

It’s ok. I know what I need to do.

I’ve been researching cures for arthritis and joint pain for years, and I know why I keep looking. It’s because I’m not particularly wild about the answer I keep coming back to. A Raw Diet? Really? Maybe if I keep looking, I’ll uncover scientific evidence that the real cure is fettucine alfredo and dark chocolate.

So, I’ve been dabbling for weeks with improving my diet- adding more vegetables, particularly raw greens; eliminating or at least cutting back on things I know are acidifying. No, I haven’t given up my beloved coffee yet, but I have been combining it with my alkalinizing substitute. I talk a good game, but I’m really only playing at going green.

It’s time to crack down and focus on feeling better. It’s either that or start searching eBay for a used walker.

I’m serious.

How Important is Our Childrens’ Health?

Have you eaten lunch in a school cafeteria lately? Since my daughters attend classes in a homeschool resource center, part of  the public school system, I’ve had the pleasure of partaking of the cuisine designed to nourish growing bodies and minds. I’m here to tell you, it’s a mighty scary thing.

Not only have the lunch prices nearly doubled in the last couple of years, but the meals have become even less recognizable as actual food. Sure the iceburg lettuce and apple may have their origins in nature, but that breaded chicken patty on a white bun hardly seems worth the energy it would take to consume. My daughters and I agree, we’re better off taking the time to pack our own lunch than to waste our money on that junk.

The frightening thing is, lots of parents assume that if the school is serving it, it must be nutritious. How wrong can they be? If more parents would take the time to learn about true nutrition, would the schools be forced to change? Here’s an interesting article that encourages parents to take action for the future health of our children. The accompanying video is fascinating; did you know that they’ve had to rename Adult Onset Diabetes because so many children are now afflicted?

Gee, is that an indication that we should rethink how we feed our children?

New Historical Fiction

My critique partner, Lynnette Bonner, has a new book out. It’s an inspirational historical fiction titled “Rocky Mountain Oasis”.  I’ll be hosting her on her blog tour on Sept. 8, so stay tuned!

Swine Flu, Anyone?

I can’t think of many things that are less appealing than a bout of the flu. I know there are worse things to endure, but if we are to believe the current media frenzy we’re in for a pandemic of… well… pandemic proportion.

So, what can we do to brace ourselves for the rush of germs that is apparently on its way? First, know that the swine flu is no more deadly than any other flu virus. It’s just more easily spread. Take your usual precautions- washing your hands frequently, eating fresh, whole foods (I’m assuming you’re doing that), getting ample rest, and drinking enough water. Beyond that, a little research may be in order.

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? I’m not going to jump onto the conspiracy bandwagon here, but I have strong opinions about vaccinations. Personally, I haven’t had a flu shot in years, and my kids have never had one. I’ve done enough research to conclude that the risk of the vaccine outweighs the risk of the virus.

The old standby supplements are still recommended- Vitamin C and Echinacea are among the favorites for prevention- but there is an abundance of research to support some new ideas. My favorite is Colloidal Silver, which has been used for centuries to kill bacteria. Another interesting trend is toward Vitamin D as a preventative. That makes sense, since we’re more prone to infection during the winter months when our exposure to the sun, our main source of vitamin D is minimized. Even if it doesn’t help fight off the flu, there are enough other reasons to take a good vitamin D-3 supplement (have you heard the one about cancer prevention?) to keep me taking it.

So, don’t let the media stress you out. With a little common sense and an eye toward prevention, the flu season doesn’t have to get you down.

New health supplement store opens in Kirkland

The Minus Shop

If you’re in the Seattle area, there’s a great new place to go for solutions to your health concerns. It’s locally owned, and she plans on opening more stores. Worth looking into!

New health supplement store opens in Kirkland

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Youth, Interrupted?

I just posted an article for the National Examiner about juvenile delinquents being incarcerated instead of being treated for their mental issues. I have to question what role nutrition plays in the proliferation of mental illness and depression in our youth, particularly those who are at risk due to lifestyle conditions.

The Truth About Cancer

ACS

This is what I’ve been saying! I’m so glad this information is getting out into the mainstream.      John Hopkins Update – Good article  AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (‘TRY’, BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.  Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :  1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.   2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.  3  When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.  4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.  5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.  6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc,=2 0and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.  7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.  8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.  9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.  10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.  11. An effect ive way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply..  *CANCER CELLS FEED ON:  a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.  b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus.. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.  c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.  d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).  e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.  12.. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes.. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.  13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.  14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.  15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.  16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.  1. No plastic containers in micro.  2. No water bottles in freezer.  3. No plastic wrap in microwave.  Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circul ated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Cast le Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Pa per isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper.. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.  Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in2 the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead. This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Arthritis Drugs Could Increase Cancer Risk in Children

Surprise…. A group of drugs that have already been on the market for a number of years is suspected of contributing to cancer in children.  I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate that the FDA is acknowledging this with a black box warning; “Careful. Use of this drug could kill your kids”.

Arthritis is no small matter, especially when it strikes a child. For my article about natural alternatives for treating this disease, click here.