Lordship

 "There is coming a day when every person who has ever lived will bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But for the Christian that great confession should be an everyday reality. A Christian should live moment by moment in faithful submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ." from the sermon The Lordship of Jesus Christ

Repost: Lysine and Arginine and Coronavirus Covid-19

An overwhelming amount of science and, of course, history itself shows us that when viruses mutate, they become easier to spread but have a much lower mortality rate. With the Delta mutation of the CoVid virus, I will keep my family on the same protocol which is below.

For my family and friends who are fearful: Turn off the TV which is constantly streaming bad news and spreading fear. Then try these things: Put your faith into practice. Open your Bible and study. Pray. Ask God for strength to overcome your fear. Listen to praise and worship music. Remember Who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. Realize His mightiness. Speak aloud His promises. Sing those praise and worship songs. Put a bracelet on that reminds you of your commitment to having faith instead of fear. You will be just as fearful or faithful as you make your mind up to be. Self discipline your mind. As you pull a fear weed, plant some faith. Tend to it as often as needed and allow it to bear fruit. I did that for hyperemesis gravidarum, miscarriage, and stillbirth. I was not perfect in it, but I did not live in fear. I continued to function and go forward where God led even though I knew it would be challenging. If I can do that as flawed as I am, then you can do that also. If we can choose to give forgiveness and choose love over hate, then we can choose faith over fear. My love to all!

Below was first posted: March 19, 2020.

Two of my children will get ulcers inside of their mouths if they eat too many peanuts or other foods high in arginine. We learned the amino acid lysine blocks arginine and have had success in treating the ulcers with it. They went from nearly constant sores to NONE. It is rare they have a sore at all now. I also treat my EBV (also a virus) with l-lysine supplementation, and it has helped noticeably. 

Yesterday, I was contemplating why two of my children were hit harder than the others with this latest virus. It popped into my head that they are the two with the arginine issue, so I told the one who still lives at home to take a large dose of l-lysine. Within several hours, he was shockingly improved! He went from achey, tired, and congested and "I am going to miss work tomorrow." to active, alert, and "I am going to work tomorrow." He looked and sounded so much better so fast.

The sudden turnaround made my gears start turning. 

Here is what I found:

"Arginine is an essential requirement for the replication of viruses and progression of viral infections."
 https://www.bioceuticals.com.au/education/article/arginine-and-its-effects-on-viral-replication

"It’s thought that lysine blocks another amino acid called arginine"
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lysine-benefits

"Since viruses do not respond to antibiotics or most other traditional treatments, a healthy diet is the best way to encourage healing. Protect your body from susceptibility to viruses by lowering your intake of arginine and increasing your intake of another basic amino acid, lysine. Lysine boosts your body’s immunity and could protect you from future outbreaks." 
https://bodyecology.com/articles/avoid_seeds_nuts_virus-php/

"Supplements  – I use these for suppressing EBV reactivation

1. 1. 1. Monolauren: 1800 mg twice daily
      2. Olive Leaf: 1000-1500 mg twice daily
      3. L-Lysine: 1000-1500 mg twice daily
      4. Cat’s Claw tincture: 30-60 drops twice daily
         

When viruses diminish due to these treatments it isn’t because any of these things attack the virus, but instead they help put your body in a state that isn’t ideal for the virus to reproduce. Hopefully, this strengthens your immune system and returns this typically harmless virus back to it’s benign state." https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2018/01/25/sleeping-giant-tips-treat-reactivation-epstein-barr-virus/

L-Lysine and the others listed might be worth researching on your own as a possible way to prevent and treat coronavirus (Covid-19 Wuhan Virus) along with other viruses. Love to all, Mama Asbell

Prayer for Clint, Please

July 30: Clint's back is much better today! He said the liniment helps loosen the muscles. 

The really neat thing about this liniment is that you apply it in layers once, but it is reactivated when you take a shower. Joshua likes it a lot and offered to be my test subject as I tried to make it hot but not too hot. 

July 29: His pain is a little worse today, but it is not where it was. He did not get the liniment applied last night, and I think that made the difference. 

The liniment I make uses one herb that draws the other two herbs deep into the tissues. The second herb is a pain-relieving/anti-inflammatory herb while the third is a strong muscle relaxing herb. He is also taking ibuprofen 1x a day in the mornings because that is when it hurts the most. He says he is 100% certain it is a baldy sprained muscle. He had some moments last night where his back was not hurting at all, so there is steady progress which is important to see. Once life slows down, I may sell this liniment. People on Etsy are selling a similar recipe for $25 for two ounces. I could sell it for half that and still make a big profit.

My husband has set a godly example of being a dedicated servant of Christ who seeks the make the most of his time on this earth. My wonderful guy will not sit down not even to watch sports. Clint likes to be active and productive. I have him committed to a light weekend, and we will see how that goes. He has three things he would like to accomplish on Saturday. Sunday morning, he is leading a Bible study, so at least that will keep him still. Sunday afternoon, I am going to ask for a 4x4 ride on acres and acres of forest trails we can explore together. That will keep him off his feet. Btw, I am calling on my sons for reinforcement to make him take it easier. ;-)

July 28: Thank you for the prayers and concern. I had him take multiple doses of magnesium water which made the muscles relax and took away most of his pain. He was moving much easier when he left this morning at 5 a.m. 

Magnesium is what doctors have used to slow premature labor contractions. It can be very effective against muscle spasms.

July 27: Clint injured his back loading a lawn mower on the 18th or 19th. He reinjured it last weekend. He is hurting "pretty good." He missed work at his part-time job on Sunday because he knew he could not bend down. He worked Monday and Tuesday switching to mostly office work. He's the boss, so he can get away with that unless something major happens. It hurts me to see my one and only in pain.

If you will, please cover him in prayer for speedy healing. 

Bethany's Praise!!!

Bethany did not go looking for a job. One came to her. After a month of employment, her boss approached her and asked if she would like to move into a harder role. Our Boo loves a challenge and readily said yes. She begins the process to become a trainer soon. We are very proud of her for doing so well that she has been offered this position! God is good!

Joshua's Praise!!!

Joshua was at the beach with friends. He walked out of the bathroom and paused on the sidewalk. Just as he walked forward from the spot, a very large tree branch fell. It hit both the sidewalk and a car parked next to the bathroom. The car had a huge dent in it. Joshua said he knew if it had landed on his head, it would have killed or seriously injured him. He said it was a split second from when he started forward to when the branch landed. He thinks it was already falling as he started to move. We are praising the Lord for keeping Him safe!!

Clint's Blessings

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5

I finally bought some! (Egyptian Walking Onions)

Every year, we try to add a perenial fruilt or vegetable to our small farmette.

This year, we are adding Egyptian Walking Onions. The price on these is quite a bit more than regular onions, but the seller was very generous. The Amazon description says 10 bulblets, but the seller sent me 34!! That will allow me to plant in a few areas to increase the odds of success. Hopefully, in a few years, I will have these to share and sell too!

Dear Reader, I have a confession to make. It irks me they are not all lined up in tidy little rows. I DID have them lined up as I counted and sorted them by size, but I lifted the paper towel to relocate them before I snapped the picture for this post. My time is precious, so I snapped a picture after spreading them out a little. We all have our idiosyncrasies and pet peeves. However, as we mature and realign our values and priorities, we learn to work around them and to even let them go. In fact, I have learned that as we grow closer to Christ, we realize imperfection is a form of perfection because of the redemptive and restorative work of grace. As we mature, our pet peeves become fewer too. I think that is because we learn to bear with one another and show grace which causes us to become less offended by others' sins while growing more offended by our own.

Caleb's Tool Blessing

A co-worker who admires Caleb's gift and work ethic blessed him with $15k in woodworking and auto tools. Most of them are machines like this drill press. The man inherited them from his father, does not know how to use them, and does not have a son. He chose Caleb to receive this part of his inheritance because of Caleb's conduct. Caleb has in turn blessed others in our family with some of the items. God provides. I am very happy for Caleb and so thankful and humbled to see the Lord work in his life. God provides!

Caleb is going to build onto one of our sheds and maybe buy another large shed so he has room to use them all. There were so many, he has filled two sheds with them all (most are on tables/stands) and has no room to work or even walk around. God is good!

Comparison of two dehydrators... and a couple of tips

Both of my square Nesco dehydrators lost their heat function, so I started researching different models. 

Tip: Through that, I learned that modern models have a timer and instructions to allow a two-hour cool-down period. Clint can repair the square Nesco dehydrators I have, and I will see if I can keep them running using this information. I think running them longer than this was causing the heating elements to fail.

Tip #2: I do not recommend the very cheap round dehydrators. The plastic used in those becomes quite brittle to the point they will fall apart in your hands as you rotate the trays. If you do buy them, store them inside your home vs attic, storage unit, or storage shed where the heat will make them degrade faster. I've gone through quite a few of these over the years. The two square Nesco dehydrators I own have held up (one since early to mid-1990s) and has been stored in the attic. 

I still wanted another dehydrator...

The Excaliber model I was looking at had 10 trays and was $500. I did not want to pay that for something I would only use part-time and end up in a box in storage most of the year. 

For 99% of things I purchase, the brand name does not matter to me as long as the item is well made, performs reliably, and is durable. I see through the "brand loyalty" game and instead do research. This exposes me to new brands with high quality products and saves me some cash. Dear Consumer, you WANT more brand competition so prices will come down. 

I set a budget for $100 for a new dehydrator. I did not like the options I had at that price point, so I changed that to $200 to $250. I spent about an hour comparing the specs on different models. 

I wanted a stainless steel cabinet, 10 14" trays, 1200 watts of power, up to 165 degrees F, and a built-in timer. I also wanted the fan/heating unit to be at the back (vs top) where it would pull heated air over all of the trays equally. This will speed up drying times and eliminate the need to rotate the trays. I ended up with two contenders that fit my requirements. If you look closely at the images, they are practically the same.

The STX International was $328. It had everything I required. 

The Yescom was $209 with a 5% off coupon. It also had everything I needed with two distinctions. It says only goes to 155 degrees F and the metal on the cabinet is just a tad thinner. With it having the same wattage, I did not blink too much at the temperature difference. Many people are saying that the pricier models are not reaching the stated temperatures. They are proving this with thermometers. The Yescom I purchased is getting to 165 F in my kitchen (which is closed off from our living areas when I am doing anything that generates a lot of heat), or 10 degrees warmer than it claims, so I am plenty happy! I do not know if it will reach this temperature in winter as my home is kept fairly cool. Even with the metal being a bit thinner, the unit weighs 38 pounds. 

For the new home food preserving friends I have been making, do a search in the blog for pressure canning, dehydration, tallow or lard rendering, water glassing, etc. That should get you started on some happy adventures. May the Lord bless you as you take care of your households.

Supply Chain

While I am not seeing any issues on the shelves in my area, I am hearing this is headed our way:

‘Perilous moment’: Global supply chains buckle as variants and disasters strike

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/perilous-moment-global-supply-chains-buckle-as-variants-and-disasters-strike-20210724-p58cjv.html

Regrowing Kitchen Scraps

I really like this guy. He shares a wealth of knowledge on his channel. His corrugated galvanized raised bed planters look wonderful! Clint and I are currently working to raise all of our beds to make it easier on our backs in our 60s. This video walks you through his experiment on regrowing kitchen scraps in soil.

https://youtu.be/qnBV6X1_Ph0

Prayer Request Updates Katherine and Kenny

July 26: Kevin asks that we pray the inspections on the well, septic, and home go well.

July 21: Kevin thanks you for the prayers! After weeks of looking, he told Clint that he has signed a contract on a home and things look good for the contract to be ratified. His home also has a contract on it. Katherine is doing very well. It has been such a blessing to see this young girl go from the depths of despair and self-destruction to having hope and looking forward to a bright future. She still has some tough things to work through, but she is much improved. Please keep praying for Katherine's mother. She has her own mental health struggles and reasons for blocking Katherine's treatments. Blocking the medical treatment for Katherine is what started the divorce and battle in court. Katherine was cutting herself to the extent the doctors and her father thought she'd die. The details of how she harmed herself that were shared with us were very, very disturbing. It is heart-rending to think of anyone in that much pain. Katherine is getting the help she needs, and it is working well for her. Also, Katherine's strength is really becoming apparent as she leaves behind that state of brokenness and continues to reach for more healing. May the Lord continue to work in the lives of this family.

July 7: Last week, the final custody hearing happened. Kevin has custody after he sells his home. Some of Katherine's trauma is centered around that house, so he is required to purchase or rent a new home. He already has a contract on his house and is searching for one to buy. Please join us in praying he is able to buy a home quickly and rejoicing that he has custody. Katherine seems to be doing well. She has not cut herself anymore and seems very happy with the court rulings. Please keep praying for her wellness of mind, body, and soul.

For the 4th, we were able to spend some time with our favorite veteran. Mr. Reese still has not had his surgery to free his locked knee joints. His knee cap on one leg is about two inches over where the knee cap goes. The knee cap on the other leg is on the inside of the joint. Doctors can not explain how this happened to him. His next appointment is in August. He was told he will get a surgery date then, but he's been told that before. He enjoyed the food and the company we gave him over two days. Please join us in prayer that Mr. Reese will surrender his life to Christ. 

Dear Reader, Thank you for your prayers for our friends. May the Lord bless you greatly for ministering to them through prayer. Please let us know how we can pray for you and yours.

He started it. She finished it.

Joshua had just come home from a hard day at work. He thought it would be fun to playfully pick on his baby sister, Hannah. He told her he was going to throw her in the pool. She let him know he'd have a battle on his hands. He gave up. I love how they are always making each other laugh. We have a good-natured gang and enjoy each other's company.

You can see my new dehydrator on "Middle Earth" behind them. I have a comparison of two and why I purchased the one I did in tomorrow's post.

Do YOU truly know HIM?

"If Jesus Christ isn't strong enough to motivate you to live Biblically, 

then you don't know Him at all!" 

-Paul Washer

Think about Jesus's question:

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say" Luke 6:46

Coming to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is transformative to one's life. You can not invite Him into your life and remain unchanged. The moment we accept His free gift of salvation we have been "born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." (I Peter 1:23) There is outward evidence of this inward change. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and convicts us and leads us. The fruits of the Spirit start making themselves known in our lives and grow stronger as we walk with Him. The more we know Him, the more we love Him and through extension the more we will love and show grace to other people. Once we know Him and understand all He has done for us, the more we desire to please Him by obeying Him.

savior: one that saves from danger or destruction

lord: someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler

submit: accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.

Heavily Laden

 

Look how low the branches were drooping.

This tree is one from which I take cuttings to root so I can share and sell.

The "ding dong deer" were not only nibbling on the fruit, but they started eating the leaves as you can see on this naked length of the branch. We have a herd of five that will walk right up to our deck. They are not very shy around us.

Earlier this year towards the end of winter, Caleb walked outside while looking at his phone. When he lifted his head, he realized he was next to the four deer. They realized he was there about the same time. Caleb jumped and made a noise. One of the deer tripped and went head over heels while another ran straight into (and took out) a section of fence.

In the background of the bottom picture, you can see my original set of grapevines which are now being overrun by Japanese Wisteria. This is where many of our friend's grapevines originated. That wisteria is making me angry. I have not conceded.

So far, we have collected 12 five-gallon buckets of fruit with pears still on five trees. For those new to planting and growing fruit trees, pear trees are some of the easiest to grow and best-producing trees on a homestead. If you want to start growing your own fruit, I recommend starting with pears. 

A fungus invaded my pear trees a few years ago. I cured it with colloidal silver. Colloidal silver is worth the research if you are a gardener. Clint made our generator, and it has been cheap to make and a great help around our farm.

For gifts, I ask for fruit trees and similar because I know it will give me a return every year that I can use to bless my family and friends. I love fruiting trees, bushes, and vines for this reason.

Shared with me: Doctor asking for balance in covid vaccine requirements and news.

https://t.me/GhostEzra/7216

Dr. Scott Jensen brings up some good points about CoVid vaccine requirements for children and asks for balance in the reporting of the news of CoVid vaccine injuries.

I was asked about Telegram. I do not have any social media on my phone, so I can't help you with the app. I do not know much, if anything, about Telegram. I just clicked the link that was shared with me. I was able to watch the video. I do not know why a couple of you can't.

Suffolk, VA: Need a Volunteer for Food Drop

There is an elderly lady I know that I would like to get a box of food to without her knowing who sent it. She has had some medical issues and is having to choose between food and medicine. This is causing her diet to be lacking which will only trigger more health issues. I would like to place an order with Food Lion or Walmart Grocery in Suffolk and have someone pick it up and drop it off to her. I want to remain completely anonymous. If you can help, please send me an email. (see header for address)

I forgot to mention, she is on Wilkins Drive. We had someone offer to help, but they were on the other end of the city and can't squeeze it in between jobs and childcare.

Four Plants = Thousands of Seeds

It's not enough to know how to garden. You also should learn how to save seeds.

These are the collard seeds from four plants that bolted due to the heat.
I need to blow out the debris, but as you can see, there are thousands and thousands of seeds here. I collected these at the end of spring after the plants dried out. I will be sowing many of them at the beginning of August for my fall garden.

When and how to collect them, how to prepare them, and how to store them are all skills that can save you a small fortune.

I can't keep it all in my head and don't like relying on the internet, so I have this book as a handy and helpful resource.

Vaccine Reactions

I am in groups where vaccine reactions are being shared. The stories are first-person or of affected family members. The stories are eye-opening and very hard on the heart. 

I encourage you to look into what is happening to some of our population and make sure they are not ignored. Vaccine injuries happen with every vaccine. This needs to be acknowledged, and resources need to be made available.

This website was started by Green Bay Packers' Ruettger after his wife suffered a side effect. She continues to decline. 

I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the personal stories and share the website so the medical community will acknowledge and help these people. https://www.c19vaxreactions.com/

Need Garden Seeds? Support a Family

When you buy seeds, please consider Seeds for Generations. This is a Christian homeschooling family-run business. 

Baby Gift / New Mother Gift Idea

This is the macrame swing we gave as a new mother gift to our wonderful "niece."

She really likes it and uses it to soothe her baby.

Friend's Home Based Business

Willow Soaps

Etsy Willow Soaps

Special Days Now and Ahead

Clint and I just returned from another four-day romantic weekend. We had so much fun! We did not get to do any boating, kayaking, or fishing this time. (I really want to get in some time on the water and do some fishing!) We did go walking, swimming, and antiquing together. We saw an abundance of wildlife on our long drives. We also enjoyed several delicious meals out and a few good movies "at home" (house we stayed in). It was a fun and relaxing time! We are looking forward to celebrating our 33rd anniversary next month. Then shortly after that, we should complete another huge goal and will take time to celebrate that too. Then there is a family camping trip planned in October if everything works out.

I forgot to add earlier that we also sat and watched a big thunderstorm. A cell formed right over us, so it was quite something to experience!

Thank you, Brian!

 Thank you, Brian, for the catfish! We will enjoy every bite!

Rainwater Collection Calculator

As Clint and I look to automate more of the daily daily tasks, I discovered this little gem:

Rainwater Collection Calculator

I learned that just one-half of one roof on our place can capture 400 gallons during a 1" rainfall. 

Prayers for High Risk Induction, Please

July 20: From Sarah: "We are going home, there are no signs of long-term effects, they are going to continue to follow him outpatient and try to manage his reflux medication."

July 19: Walter's grandmother (also a very good friend of ours) contacted me to ask you, Dear Reader, to pray for Walter. He went in Friday for a scan to see how his esophagus was doing. If there was a sign of it narrowing, they were going to do a dilation procedure and then send him home. Everything looked good, so they did not do the dilation procedure.

Sunday afternoon, Walter was nursing when he suddenly stopped breathing and turned purple. His father performed CPR while they awaited an ambulance. 

Walter has been admitted to CHKD. X-rays were clear. They suspect his esophagus. The last I heard, they were waiting on tests from the ENT team. I will post more when I learn it. Thank you all for praying for this sweet newborn.

9PM Sarah told me you can now hear stridor when Walter is breathing. Please pray they are able to find the source and correct it quickly. 

"Stridor is a noisy or high-pitched sound with breathing. It is usually caused by a blockage or narrowing in your child's upper airway. Some common causes of stridor in children are infections and defects in the child's nose, throat, larynx, or trachea that the child was born with." -source

********************

June: 3 Walter is back home. My sweet "niece" reports that Walter will have another dilation surgery this coming Friday. This time it will be as an outpatient. Sarah and Joe ask for prayers that everything goes well. Specifically, prayers are needed that Baby Walter's esophagus will stay at the diameter needed. 

May 27: Almost two months old Walter was showing signs of his esophagus closing up last night, so they took him back to the hospital. Please pray that the dilation surgeries go well and that he is able to be free of doctors and hospitals soon. 

May 14: Walter went home!!

May 10th: Walter had another dilation surgery. He did very well and was expected to go home shortly after. However, just as he was very close to leaving, he started having bradycardia episodes. So, now he will have to stay another week. 

Sunday April 18: Sarah wrote me last night and told me Walter pulled his NG tube out. The radiologist could not get it back in, so they called the surgeon. The plan was for the surgeon to put Walter under, dilate his esophagus, and put the NG tube back. The surgeon decided to try to put it in without putting him under, so he took Walter to radiology. He was able to get it back in, but not Walter can not get his O2 levels normal. Walter is now back on supplemental O2. Please pray his O2 levels rise. Please pray for Walter's weary young parents. 

Thursday April 15: Sarah was allowed to start breastfeeding Walter yesterday. He is clearly moving in the right direction.

Monday April 12: My "niece" told me Baby Walter has had another test this morning. He passed it with flying colors. As a result, they almost doubled his feeds. And, yes, "Aunt Wendy" has sent several gifts to her sweetie pie! 

I had to ask a few times: Sarah is very tired still. She is trying to rest when she is not with Walter. Having heart issues means the birth took more of a toll on her than it does with normal births. Please pray for Sarah's body to recover fully so she will have plenty of energy to care for Walter.

Saturday, April 10: Sarah went home Wednesday. Walter is expected to be able to go home this coming week. He is doing very well. He is to have a contract test today to see how his insides are healing. They may be able to take the tube out which will let his parents hold him. 

I apologize for not updating sooner. We've been very, very busy. Our neighbor (disabled) had a hot water heater burst and cause some damage and needed assistance with that.

**************

Monday April 5th: Sarah is not feeling well still. The transfusion did not get finished until 10PM. She is concerned the doctors will send her home and something will happen there. She has fainted and fallen down the stairs before. She lives about an hour from the heart hospital. Walter is still in the children's hospital. Thank you to those who are praying.

Easter Sunday: Walter Eli Wade Blair, 6 lbs 6 ounces, born March 31. He is still sedated while his body heals, but he is doing very well. I have inquired about her hemoglobin levels. 

Sarah says her hemoglobin levels are still low. She is feeling the effects of that. She is receiving a transfusion tonight to help her. She says thank you for the prayers.

**********

Friday 11 a.m. The baby is still in surgery which can take up to 4 hours. Mama is having issues keeping her hemoglobin levels up, so she is staying in the hospital at least through Monday. She is being allowed to go see the baby. The heart hospital and children's hospital are nearby and are part of the same network. I will update once I know the baby is out of surgery. Thank you to those who are praying along.

6 p.m. The baby did OK through surgery and is sedated due to the NG tube. 

Thursday: I received an update a few hours ago.

I've been asked the birth details, but I am waiting on the parents to announce it to the rest of their family and friends. Prayer needs: The mother is a bit anemic but OK. The plan is for her to be released Saturday or Sunday. The baby is at CHKD. Surgery is planned for late tomorrow morning. There is a hole in the esophagus and the esophagus is not connected to the stomach (esophageal atresia and a tracheoesophageal fistula). These issues will be easily repaired during surgery. This condition goes along with polyhydramnios (too much amnio fluid). The baby is doing very well and is very active. They are giving "sugar water" via IV. Please keep praying for the baby and new parents. (I'm going $hopping (again) for this special baby!! <3 <3 I am overwhelmed with joy for this sweet Christian young woman.)

Wednesday 3/31 evening: The baby was born at 2:48 p.m. I am not going to post the birth details until later since some of the family do not know yet. She, the mother, is fine. The forceps were not needed! She was able to have the birth the way she wanted! The baby needs prayer and is on the way to CHKD for surgery. I did not get the sense that it is a huge issue. 

**************

Wednesday afternoon: She is 6 cm and 80% effaced. Her water broke on its own yesterday morning about an hour before they planned to do it manually. Once the 3L of fluid was off, the baby started having heart rate issues. She asks for prayer that the baby's heart rate will stay up. I have known this young lady since she was born. She has had such a hard road to travel medically. It is my prayer that she can have the baby vaginally as she wishes because so much in her life has been out of her control. Thank you to those who are lifting her and the baby in prayer.

Wednesday morning: When I checked on her at 4 a.m., She was still at 4 cm but the contractions were getting closer together. She is in a delivery room with her husband. The doctor plans to use forceps to help deliver the baby to keep her heart from working too hard. 

**************

Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. She has kept in close contact via text. Please pray that I can give her words to encourage her and build her confidence. She has choices she has to make soon. Please continue to pray for this brave young lady's safety as she delivers her baby. She is stronger in the Lord and braver than most. She is very special to me.

7:17 a.m. My sweet "niece" has been in contact since she was admitted, but I have not been able to update on my computer.  I copied and pasted the important parts of the conversation for those interested. A quick summary is highlighted below.

Please note: The doctors started the induction process early and she will be in L&D early. This is a high-risk delivery for mother and baby. Please keep them covered in prayer.

Monday at 10:05 AM

Thank you, I love you and will keep you updated. Induction is scheduled to start Wednesday, we just got settled in our room. Waiting to start heparin drip.

 at 10:06 AM

Will you be on the heparin drip the entire time?

at 10:07 AM

    They will stop it while I’m in active labor and restart it after the birth

at 8:38 AM

So when we got here yesterday morning we were under the impression we would be here 6-7days, and induction would start Wednesday. However, as the day went by that quickly changed and we are already in the induction process as of last night and will be moved down to Labor and Delivery this morning to start the medications to finish out the process. We won’t know how long afterward we will have to stay until... well afterward. But please keep us in your prayers as this isn’t exactly the plans we had in mind; we are still leaning and trusting on God 100% and the plans he has for our delivery. We know he will carry us through.

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Please pray for mother and baby.

3/24: Our young friend with the heart issues is being induced weeks earlier than planned due to pressure on her heart. She will begin the process with a heparin drip on Monday and the plan is to have the baby born on Wednesday. Please keep them covered in prayer. I will update once the baby is born.

Repost: That Dangerous "I Don't Care" Attitude

 This is one of our most visited pages. First shared November 23, 2012:

"I don't care. I am going to do what I want." 

Scripture tells us that we have to be humble to be useful to the Lord. The problem today is that most Christians lack humility. Pride is a rebellion against God. When we have that "I don't care!" attitude, we need to slow down and ask ourselves what it reveals about us and what we need to do to get it our will lined up with God's. 

Are we really saying: 

"I don't care... what the Bible says. I will do what I want to do."
"I don't care... how this affects my testimony."
"I don't care... who I hurt."
"I don't care... what anyone thinks about it. I am going to do as I please."
"I don't care... about the consequences of this action." 
"I don't care... because I have stopped believing in God's promises."
"I don't care... what the law says. No one will get hurt. I know better than the lawmakers."
"I don't care... if I make an exception to obedience in this one area. I am good enough/will make up for it in other areas."

We can ask ourselves the same type of questions with other sayings. That's why we call them "expressions." They express the motives of our heart. We like to drop the parts that we aren't comfortable with so we can do what we want to do. We make excuses and pat ourselves on the back in other areas to give ourselves permission to sin. Even when we get Christian counsel, we have to be wary. Sometimes counsel will give a pass on our sin so we will give a pass to theirs later. 

The Bible lists some serious consequences of stubborn pride. The consequences of the choices we make will not only affect us, but those around us. Even when my attitude is so far into the tank I don't care about what happens to me, I still care about what happens to my husband and children. They are a strong motivator to continue to do what is right and pleasing to the Lord. 

Diving deep into our hearts to do the nitty gritty work of self examination and making a course correction isn't easy. Honesty can be painful. Making course corrections in front of the people who saw us charge ahead into sin is humiliating. God knows "weeding" is a painful process. Yielding to His way of thinking and behaving means sometimes we give up our own. It can be quite a struggle. That is why He blesses us with incredible spiritual growth for doing it.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Colossians 3:5-10 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Extreme Effort

Guo Xinzhen's father, Guo Gangtang, never stopped looking, either. After his son went missing, he embarked on a search across China, riding a motorbike through nearly all of the vast country's provinces, covering 500,000 kilometers (310,685 miles), according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

He carried little with him except a bag full of fliers, and a flag emblazoned with a picture of his son. He used up all his savings and racked up staggering debts, burning through 10 motorcycles on his long journey, Xinhua reported. -source

Dear Reader, This is a touching story of a good father going through extreme effort to find his lost child. I can only think of one other story that surpasses it. It's the story of a Father Who gave His only Son to die in our place for the wrongs we have committed. I hope you know Him. I hope you have made Him your Lord and Savior. I hope He truly reigns in your life. Love to all!

Praise!

Please join our family in rejoicing with friends of ours over their son's progress! Ben is the son of friends, and he has dwarfism with some other complications. He was unable to walk in a straight line and do things that are very easy for other children. Today, he showed off wonderful gross motor skills by taking instructions from his sister and learning to row a kayak. GOD IS GOOD!

Can you spot a familiar name?

If you can enlarge the image, you will see a familiar Asbell name speaking his piece. Clint, Brandon, and Joshua attended the meetings. 

I wrote a letter that was read during one meeting calling out our leadership for not making the necessary regulations to protect our community. Most cities/counties have those in place to protect their citizens' neighborhoods. Because we do not have them here, we have become a target. One meeting after my letter was read, our county announced it is now working to get those protections in place.

The company mentioned in the article has litigation pending against them for not keeping to their promises. That was brought up at the meetings. The panels they are saying are "safe" are actually only a bit "safer." They are not safe enough for such a fragile environment as wetlands and a state-registered wildlife habitat that has been devastated by past tornadoes, hurricanes, and flooding.

Our community has land next to an industrial complex for a much larger facility, but for some reason, they wanted to put it right next to our neighbors' homes. It would not have been in view of our home, but it would have been surrounding other neighbors' homes. Those neighbors did research and learned the air over the panels creates so much heat that is carried by the wind that it would affect their comfort levels while working in their yards. 

A check with realtors and actual people in other areas where these "farms" have been installed say the property values do decrease despite what the company claimed their research showed. The people who had them installed in their neighborhoods also shared that they did not get the price break on their power bills--not even once. Instead, their power bills went up by quite a bit! 

Clint and I are not against alternative energy. In fact, we use panels ourselves. We just do not want a huge* "farm" of them stuck in the ground at flood level in such a fragile environment that is home to wildlife populations that are threatened. This is a very rural neighborhood, not an industrial complex. Please note they went from calling them "facilities" to "farms" to make them more palatable. 

From the manufacturing to the disposal and the failed solar situation in California that is leading to rolling brown and blackouts, there is a lot left to improve in this type of technology. These ugly facilities that clash with a natural environment can easily be put on land adjoining industrial complexes.

Just so you know, Clint and I were on the fence about it until we did hours and hours of research. We dug deep. Then we went beyond what was on the internet to listening to actual people in communities where these have been built. Having been thoroughly educated over the last few months, we are firm on where we stand. 

In this post, I didn't even touch on the "site abandonment"  and a few other issues some communities have experienced. Beware! There is A LOT to know and to look out for before you lend your support to one of these types of projects. 

*There were plans in place, which our neighbors uncovered, to greatly expand beyond what they told us.

Silicone Dehydrator Sheets and a Dehydrator Tip

I use these in my dehydrators. 

This is a very good deal (about 50% off the prices I normally see), so I am sharing here so others can take advantage of it also. 

Tip: If you are using an older dehydrator, make sure you turn it off after 12-15 hours and let it cool for a couple of hours before running it again. My older models have been losing their heating element. I noted as I compared an array of newer models that the modern ones all have timers and instructions to allow a cooling period. I hope this helps someone else.

The two square Nesco dehydrators I own do not have the timer. After C-Dawg repairs them, I will give them cool down periods every 12-15 hours. The newer Excaliber knock-off model I just purchased does have a timer. 

Paying attention?

I warned you they were not being forthright. If I, a simple home/small business money manager, can get an idea of what's coming, then they, with all their tools and inside knowledge, KNOW. For whatever intent or purpose, they are not being straightforward. 

“This is not what the market expected,” said James McCann, deputy chief economist at Aberdeen Standard Investments. “The Fed is now signaling that rates will need to rise sooner and faster, with their forecast suggesting two hikes in 2023. This change in stance jars a little with the Fed’s recent claims that the recent spike in inflation is temporary.” https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/16/fed-holds-rates-steady-but-raises-inflation-expectations-sharply-and-makes-no-mention-of-taper.html 

Proverbs 27:12?

Better and Better

CoVid slowed down so much, but now things are starting to pick up again. Amanda received word that she is now in the training program for her next step up. This training can take 2-5 years but it will be well worth it as a career move. Very few people get to be in this training program. It is an opportunity given to employees that stand out. We are very, very proud of her!

Thank you for the concern for Caleb.

Caleb's cut split open at work today. I am hoping I can get home in time to look at it before he has to go to bed. I have glue to reclose it. I also keep sutures on hand for livestock. I offered to stitch him up. "I need the practice, ya know!" :-D That "No, thank you!" text came back very fast! LOL!

7/10: Thank you for your concern for Caleb. As many of you know, he was taken to the ER from work yesterday. Those who heard about it mistakenly thought it was something to do with his lungs. He was removing a cabinet in an RV when his hand hit jagged metal. He has a 2" cut in his palm. It was not very deep. They were able to close it with glue. He returns to work on Monday. 

Btw, his lungs are fantastic! The surgery to adhere his lungs to the lung cavity worked. He has not had any more partial collapses.

Prayers for a Dear Friend

A dear friend from our hometown is undergoing a risky surgery this morning. Please pray for her and her family. Clint and I are very concerned for her well-being.

8 p.m. She is OK. The surgery revealed she has a second slow leak in a valve, but it is not worth the risk of surgery. This explains some worrisome test results she received recently. Thank you to all who prayed for her. 

I apologize for not updating sooner. Clint planned a last-minute romantic weekend getaway for us. I had to finish what work I could, put away my gardening gear, pick nine five-gallon buckets of pears, shower, pack, and literally jump in the suburban. Tuesday and Wednesday, I will be peeling and preserving pears.

Curious website

https://www.ingersolllockwood.com/tick-tock-the-sleeper-must-awaken-its-time/ (copy and paste)

The street address for the company is even more curious.

Are you paying attention?

 Supermarkets Are Stockpiling Inventory as Food Costs Rise

Grocers are setting aside larger amounts of frozen meat, sugar, and other items to protect profits ahead of anticipated price increases

"after more than 100 suppliers notified SpartanNash that they would raise prices,"

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Grocery stores are buying and stockpiling at lower prices in anticipation of higher prices coming. This brings them a financial benefit. A year and a half ago when I spoke with people about this happening, they thought I was crazy. Now, what I have been saying is on our doorstep. 

A friend who works at Sams Club reports an extra meat case has been added. Another friend who works in a grocery store says food is being stacked as high as they can get it. Walmart, Home Depot, and Sams Club have increased prices every time I go into the stores. Tracking prices is as easy as saving your receipts or using a receipt app* that allows you to view them which is the main reason I started using receipts apps. It's nice to get a few pennies for it too. You can also take a picture of shelf prices with your cell phone. *my referral link

What I am reading is 3-5% over the next month. 

However, I've recently observed one item which jumped close to 260%. The item was .99 and it jumped to $2.56. That was in ONE price change. Other items have doubled in price or come close to it. The ground beef I use has increased 125%. The steaks I buy have doubled in price which is 200%. Another product I buy jumped from $1.12 to $2.12 or 189%. The can of soup I use to purchase for .98 is now 1.28 or a 130% price change.

Critical thinking: Why would one thing be told to us when the increases are definitely much higher than they are saying? How many people will believe what they read/hear vs taking the time to do the math? Do the masses tend to panic easily? What happens before a hurricane?

Dear Reader, I encourage you to invest in some of today's prices by buying food and the other everyday items you use. I was told prices are supposed to increase "in a way that more will feel it" around September/October. With this article, it looks like that timeline is very close to my sources' information. 

My love to all! And, I do love you. You might not believe it, but I truly do. Look well to the ways of your household, and watch the Lord bless you!

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. Proverbs 31:25-31