Lemon Water – Alkalizing Superstar

So What Are the Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water?

Almost as cunningly simple in its title as ‘green drink’ – lemon water is quite blindingly straightforward in its makeup: it is water with lemon squeezed in. Could it be any easier?

The beauty of lemon water is that it is tasty, refreshing and best of all, alkalizing. The lemon juice raises the alkalizing effect of the water so even with standard tap water you can make your drink nice and alkalizing.

Apart from being an amazing body alkalizer, lemon water also gives the following health benefits:

Lemons are antiseptic

             Lemon water has excellent digestive properties and can ease

                          heartburn, bloating and other digestion problems

             Lemon water cleanses and stimulates the liver and kidneys

             Lemon juice contains calcium, magnesium and potassium

             Lemon juice has been known to relieve asthma

             Lemon water (hot) offers relief from cold and flu symptoms while

                          providing some much needed Vitamin C

             Lemon juice is a great skin cleanser

So if you do not do anything else – start every single day with a glass of lovely lemon water!

It is not the relative acidity/alkalinity of the food but rather the effect it has on the body that is important. Seemingly acidic foods such as lemons, limes and tomato are acidic in their basic state, but once metabolized by the body have an alkalizing effect. The high alkaline mineral content of these foods means that once consumed and metabolized they increase the alkalinity of the cells of the body.

Extra Update:  If you are concerned about tooth enamel and lemon water,here are a few suggestions  :
Clean your teeth after your lemon water. Toothpaste is highly alkaline so neutralizes any acids in the mouth – remember the lemon is still acidic until you metabolize it, and at this point it has an alkaline effect on the body

          Drink a glass of (pre alkaline) water – or just rinse your mouth out

          Drink the lemon water through a straw

"When we have the opportunity to help someone, we should do it."  

~Galatians 6:10 (NCV)

Gloria in the white jacket and me in the black jacket,
Ross driving the train.

My friend Gloria and I have coffee once a month just to catch up on each other’s lives. Tuesday was our day to meet so Gloria asked if I would like to take a day trip with her and her husband, Art.  A trip to Coal Creek Canyon proved to be a very memorable day. A friend of theirs had built a miniature railroad and had invited his friends to take a ride. I must admit that I did not know what to expect and neither did Art and Gloria. What fun we had as we took turns riding the rail. Their friend Ross is retired and built the whole thing in his spare time. It is really quite a setup as you can see from the pictures.

Ross has five acres in Coal Creek and a deep slope on his land. He built not only the train but all of the tussles and tracks. He has a huge workshop full of engines that he is working on. An actual turntable where he can turn the train around. All of it was unbelievable that one man could do all of this. It is right out behind his house. What a back yard.

What a house! Ross also built his house over 35 years. It is round with an enclosed walking porch all the way around it. It is in the background of the 2nd picture.

The group of friends that were there all graduated together from Arvada High School. How much fun it was listening to their stories, especially since I just missed my High School Reunion while I was on vacation the week before.

I was thinking of my little cousins Jack and Wyatt, and how they would have loved to be with me riding the rails.

This is the picture on our shirts with all of standing in front of the sign.

I finally got to take a vacation this year - one that had been in the planning since March. On Sunday, 9-11, I flew to Portland Oregon with some friends, then on to Seaside Oregon for the week. The weather turned out to be very cool even on the days it was predicted to be a little warmer. The sun did peak between the clouds a couple of times and we were able to shed our jackets. The water was extremely cold and I only walked into it one time. Little James on the other hand loved it and the cold water did not stop him. Nancy and I did lots and lots of walking while Randy, Sherry, James and Katie went on a tour of the waterfalls and then to the sand dunes one day. They saw magnificent scenery. Little Katie was getting over a broken arm and just had her cast off the day before they left for Seaside. I think she was possibly still favoring it a little bit - only noticeable in the picture.

Randy and Sherry Whitehill, Nancy Johnston,
me on the bike, James and Katie Whitehill

Two years ago I went to Seaside Oregon with the same friends. We had our picture taken together under the sign.Well, Nancy took that picture and T-shirts made for all of us in different colors. Well yes, we had our picture taken together again this year with our T-shirts on. It was a lot of fun. Thank you Nancy. 

Ember stayed with Laurie while I was gone. Laurie picked her up after I left on Sunday and she brought her back home Saturday, the 17^th, before I got home. She was so happy to seem me and became glued to me the first couple of days back. What a sweet heart she is – I missed her just as much.

To my wonderful friends and a wonderful vacation:
Thank You

“A kindness done is never lost. 
It may take awhile, 
but like a suitcase on a luggage carousel, 
it will return again.”
~H. Jackson Brown

I'm Gonna Love You Through It (with lyrics) - Martina McBride

You are in Control

My tribute to Freida Story

I never had the opportunity to meet Freida and I never had the opportunity to talk to her, however, we traveled a very unusual journey together - Cancer!

Freida's brother, Mark Story, was the Worship Director at my church for several years. Mark would tell us about his sister who lived in California and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. In February of 2008, after much chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the doctor's told her that she was "cancer-free". In July of 2008 I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. In October 2008 Freida was again diagnosed with a rare cancer.   

The both of us with very different cancers, both aggressive, made very different decisions about treatment and did the best we knew how to beat this ugly Cancer. At 55 years of age Freida lost her battle and she is now in the arms of God...Friday, August 5, 2011.

Freida Story was an active single mother of two boys living in Los Gatos California, a small town in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Like most moms she was very busy.  In addition to attending all her children's extracurricular activities, she ran a daycare in her home, directed children's theatre, sang in a local rock band, and on her vacation time led folks on tours all over the world with Queenslander Tours. 

Freida had the most awesome support system to help her through the tough days when she was so sick. I read her blog and I understand that she read mine. I could see her going down gradually and it broke my heart because there was nothing I could do to help her...so I prayed for her and her family every day.

She was such an inspiration to me because she was so active all the time and I could not figure out how she kept going so strong. I knew there must be something wrong with me because I couldn't do it. I could tell that she was a lady with a sense of humor. Every picture you see she is smiling or laughing. Laughing is good for the soul and I understand that she did plenty of that. There is so much I could say but it is hard to know where to begin. I will miss her so much. 

One day she was Disneyland with her family and people kept staring at her, Freida did not wear wigs she wore a scarf or went bareheaded. These are her words from that experience; "...being ignorant in this day and age actually requires more effort than being enlightened.  Regardless of someone's walk in life, we should first try to think of that person as a human being with all the rights a human being has.  The Golden Rule is the answer: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 

I understand that instead of having a service for her they have planned a "Celebration of Life". Hopefully they will dress in some of her costumes that she wore every summer when she did the Children's Theater. I understand that she has a gigantic wardrobe. Just reading her blog I know that she would not want tears, unless they were tears of joy.

I am sorry that I never met you Freida - I will miss reading your blog postings. 

Dear God - we know that 
"You Are In Control"

The Acid Alkaline Diet

At this point in my life my cancer is not "active". There is no medical reason why this should be so the doctors will not say that I am in remission.

I am being asked a lot of questions about this diet that so far God has allowed to work for me. I cannot answer how it will work for someone else. First of all you can check back on previous posts to see how my progression went.

There are many, many books out there that talk about the Acid/Alkaline diet. I want to tell you that this has not been a diet that I have lost weight on simply because I am more interested in my health at this point and keeping the cancer at arms length.

The books that I chose to buy - 1st was "Alkalize or Die" by Theodore A Baroody, a Christian doctor. 2nd was "The Acid Alkaline Food Guide" by Dr Susan E Brown and Larry Trivieri, Jr.

Both of these books are excellent but I never let them stop me from doing research on the internet. I am avid about finding out everything I can...new information all the time. I check on foods that are good for healing cancer as well as the Alkalize diets. I look for recipes that will work. It is almost like being a vegetarian except that I do eat moderate amounts of chicken, turkey and fish, especially salmon and tuna. In fact, starting out you are a vegetarian...kick start so to speak...then add foods back your favorite foods gradually if you must. I love hamburgers and I do treat myself to one about every six months. I grew up on hot dogs and still love them...one in three years. It is a matter of what do I want more - food that is not good for me, or to be cancer free.

As you can see, I do still eat foods that are all Allkaline. I try to remember each day that this is a 80/20 diet which is very normal for the body.

I check my pH daily, especially if I have eaten a little too much of something that is acid. pH is something you will learn about as you read and research. Oddly enough you cannot get pH strips everywhere. The first time I checked at Vitamin Cottage and they did not have them so I ordered on-line. Then I checked again when I was in there and they had them.

Please feel free to contact me anytime to ask questions. But remember, the key is research, research, research. You must be very committed to this way of eating to be successful. And, read those labels on food. You will be shocked at what is tucked inside those boxes.

Everyone knows someone with cancer...what have we got to lose by trying this diet.  Especially if you want to live. Ask God for His help to keep you or your loved one going in the right direction. I owe all of my success, on this diet, to God.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." "Then you will call upon me, and I will listen to you" "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Burned Biscuits

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today.... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."


So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."


Thank you Jolene for sharing!

One bad toothache

I know that we have all been through our grueling moments at the dentist office but Thursday turned out to be a very different day than what it started out to be.

First of all I wanted the tooth pulled, it’s a molar in the back and causing lots of pain. The dentist wanted to do a root canal (4 roots on a molar) on it to save the tooth since it is attached to a bridge. I asked for the price difference because I don’t have the money to do extensive work. I called back and made an appointment to have the tooth extracted on Thursday morning at 10:20. When I got to the office they hade been trying to call me to change the appointment to 2:30 pm.

Now get this – the dentist had decided to do the root canal at the cost of the extraction. Never heard of this being done before. She just did not want to see me lose this tooth because it is my chewing tooth and I would also loose part of the bridge also.

I went back at 2:30 and she started on the root canal. Then she decided that she was not going to be able to save the tooth after all. Extraction!!! The tooth would not come out…it just kept breaking off because it was so brittle. She literally had to dig each root out…dig, drill, pull…dig, drill, pull…dig, drill, pull…dig, drill, pull! I was doing a lot of talking to God at this point!

It’s Gone! (This is the same tooth that I wrote about around the first of April.) When the dentist was finished after an hour and a half she asked about the red mark on my jaw line. I told her that it was from her grasp on my jaw. She couldn’t believe it and was so sorry.  It was very painful all day Friday but it is much better this morning. Still swollen but no bruising to my surprise.

I have never had a tooth not come out. She said the roots were attached to the bone. Well it is out now and we will be on to something else next month. There is always something new to look forward to.

“Prayer releases the power and wisdom of God into a situation.”

My cousin Betty Kay has been reminiscing on Face Book about the “good ol’ times” when we would get together out in the country where my parents lived. Fourth of July always stands out because we were in the country and it was the perfect place to have a big picnic and shoot lots of fireworks. No Daylight Saving Time back then so it got dark earlier and we were able to shoot off the colorful fireworks…and that is after a day of the noisemakers.

I have been in Denver for fifteen years now and I do not get to see family as often as I would like. I have a family only FB page and that is how I get to keep in touch…with posts and pictures. Love those pictures of nieces, nephews, cousins, their kids and their kids.

The highlight of my days - when I receive a call from cousins saying they are coming through Colorado. Since I have moved to the apartment I don’t have room for people to stay but usually everyone is just passing through on vacation or just traveling. I have had breakfast with Tim and Cindy Robinson on their way back to Texas. And I have had lunch with Jim and Lindy Blessington on their way back to Kansas City. Johanna Schwed has been in Colorado Springs on several occasions on company business and we get a chance to meet for dinner in Castle Rock at least one night while she is here. That is a halfway point for each of us. Sister Jeanne was in Denver for a meeting and I had a chance to go have lunch with her one day before she went back to Omaha. Jackie Ireland and her friend Karen were trying out her new truck and came to Colorado. I was able to have dinner with them at Texas Roadhouse. Just this past week Steve and Julie Schwed stopped by on their way to Pikes Peak. We had time to go to Red Rocks and have dinner at the Morrison Inn. Several days later Tom and Marti Buehler stopped on their way to Kansas City. We got fish and chips from GBs and went over to the lake and had lunch. Each of these visits is only for a couple of hours but it is like a booster shot for me. Sister Johanna and Betty Kay have been out several times and Debbie Jones and Jackie Ireland were out several times while I was still in my condo. Kathy Jo Walker came to Loveland to be with one of her cousins for surgery but we were not able to get together except by phone.

Just remember that I now live a couple of miles off of I-70 and practically everyone uses I-70 while in Colorado. I would love to see as many of you as possible when you are passing through. Please don’t pass me by – time is short.

God Bless each and every one of you and have a safe and Happy 4^th.