Remember Me

A thought came to my mind today ... a sobering one. Sometimes life is hard, sometimes it's super challenging, but we have a Heavenly Protector ... one who loves us more than we can fathom. When these things come to mind, end that thought with "Remember Me".

The next time a situation makes you want to lose it. Remember Me.
When a person hurts you deeply. Remember Me.
When someone angers you and you want to get even. Remember Me.
When you're so broken and you feel like nobody gets it. Remember Me.
When you're so happy, that you can't help but dance. Remember Me.
When everything is going right and you think you have it all. Remember Me.
When forgiveness seems impossible. Remember Me.

Just ... Remember Me. On the cross. Separating your sin as far as the East is from the West.


Have a wonderful Leap Day,
Aline

P.S. If you want to be super blessed and blown away at how He loves and cares for you, read II Samuel 22.

Fighting It Naturally


Hola! I'm blogging from Canada ... burrr. It's been a nice few months since returning, but now the weather is cooling down =( We've had frost twice, and many days requiring our coats & toques & scarves. So, if you happen to think of us Canadians in pity, send up a prayer for an Indian summer. 


This post is to continue on with a few more ideas & things that we do naturally to help us stay healthy. My last post on this topic included:
* Gargling with salt water * Steam Rooms * Raw Garlic * Chest Physiotherapy * Physical exercise * Cough Tea * and of course Nutritional Supplements!!! Below are a few more =)

Drum-roll ...

Essential Omega Oils for joints and cognitive brain function (Omega 3) - I take fish oils & D3 (5,000 IU 3x per day) Another great way to naturally get Vitamin D is to get out in the sunshine for at least 30 minutes a day if possible. I envy all you living in a warmer climate that can do this year round =)


MMS (Miracle Mineral Supplement) - To use, I squeeze one fresh lemon. Use 5 fresh lemon drops per 1 MMS drop. I usually take 4 drops at a time. After putting the lemon juice & MMS in a glass cup, let it activate for 3 minutes.
Then we use a pure pressed pineapple juice (not from concentrate) to add to the mixture for the sake of our taste-buds and drink =) It can be done up to every 2 hours. Especially when fighting a cold or bug. On a normal basis if we're feeling healthy we do it either once a day or twice a week. (Whenever we remember)

Casein Removal - 80% of the protein in Milk is Casein. When you consume casein, your body is seeing it as a foreign protein, and you land up producing histamines which end up as mucus. That's why it's mucus forming. This process takes 10-12 hours.
Let's not forget the law of replacement ... people use milk everyday in so many different things. So, substitute Cows Milk for Almond/Rice/Hemp milk. I personally use and LOVE Almond milk. We either buy Almond Breeze, or make it ourselves. We have a great, simple recipe =)

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) - MSM is great for so many things. It helps detoxify the body and increase blood circulation, it relieve stress, inflammation, etc ... the list goes on. I get a glass of warm water, dissolve 1 tsp, and drink as often as I remember. Anywhere from 1-4 times per day.

Alfalfa  - Most CF patients are on either on ADEK's or SourceCF or some other form of Vitamin K. Vit K is excellent for blood vessels and much more. We started using Alfalfa in January of this year. We buy it in bulk and make them into pills for daily use.

Colloidal Silver - Kills virus' & bacteria ... I take it only when I'm sick, or if I feel something coming on.

The Nutritional Supplements I take (product name not listed on my blog) include Vitamins & Minerals, Enzymes (natural ones), Probiotics, Carbohydrates, Phytonutrients, Phytosterols, and Antioxidants.

That's all I can think of for now, have a great day & stay healthy!
Aline

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Christopher Robin to Winnie The Pooh :)

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for taking my place on the cross. Thank You for giving me life both here and everlasting. Thank You for every obstacle I've had to face, because it strengthens my faith and love for You.

 

Please heal all the broken hearts ... give people a ray of hope today that gives them the strength to make it through. Be with every parent that has lost a child this year, both to accidents & disease. Help us to see that You have and are holding us tight close to Your heart.

 

Place a hedge of protection on my wonderful Dad, my amazingly beautiful Mom, Stan, Chantelle, Linaya, Alycen, Kristiana, Jonathan, Bill, Melodie, Anderson, Trenton, Jade, Chris, Helene, Abe, Rebecca, myself, Katherine, Nathaniel, Sara & David. You have given me the most amazing family. =) I am forever thankful. Guide and lead all the future spouses. Help them to walk with you everyday. 

 

Thank you for all my awesome friends - they are the extra family you've given me :) Thank you for Daniel & Sandra Welch, Eugene & Gloria Fox, Jeff & Judy Allen, Sam & Linda Caster & Dr. Reg McDaniel =)

 

Protect all the CFers out there, grant them health and happiness. Help today to be an easy day ... easy to love, easy to breathe, easy to forgive, easy to laugh ... easy to see You.

 

Be with every unborn baby. You have a purpose and a plan for them, help their mothers to see that. I pray that they'd choose life. Give them the opportunity to hear their babies heartbeat, and feel them kick inside of them. Help them to see what a miracle and privilege it is to be a mother.

 

Thank You for freedom, music, & rain. Also, between you & me, thank you for the NHL. And Welch's Fruit Snacks. And kittens. Also tea.

 

I thank and praise you for Glyconurtients. Thank you for 21 years on this earth. Use me to reach others in whatever way possible. Help me to be the light in a dark place, a smile where there is sadness, and hope when we feel defeated. 

 

Help us to love like You love. Forgive like You forgive. Heal families Lord, in Your name, meld families back together. Be with every marriage - strengthen and restore relationships!

 

Thank you for Your written word =) I love you. This is what's on my heart right now.

 

Aline

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psalms 40:5

It’s a GIRL!!!!!!

Measuring in at 7lbs 1oz, 21 inches, family member #22 Jade Adara is finally here, and OH SO CUTE! She is such a little princess! We were celebrating Thanksgiving (Canadian) and when Mel & Bill got there, we knew something was up. After supper & games, we headed over to their house to stay with the kids.

Basically I had no gut feeling as to what the babies gender would be these last 9 months, right? Well, after they left for the hospital, I had a strong feeling it was a girl. I even wrote it down for proof! Of course, had it been a boy, I would have burnt the evidence immediately and told nobody. lol =) Again, she had an ALL natural birth - no pain meds whatsoever! So proud of you Mel!!!!

We just finished up with the Harvest. Our family garden measures at 307ft X 90ft. It definitely kept us busy these last few months. Weeds, weeds, and more weeds. Great opportunity to soak in the Vitamin D & enjoy the WONDERFUL summer God gave MB this year. I honestly cannot complain at all – we had wonderful temperatures! That said – we’ve gotten into the below 0°C weather several times and sleet once. It was -7°C a week ago. Winter is coming fast, we're expected to get snow this week… =( The wise Canadian geese are flying south. Can't wait to join them :)

Besides a nasty cold a few months ago, and a few close calls, I’m doing very well! It takes a load of effort to stay that way, but it’s worth it.

Fact is, CFers fight every single day. How we choose to fight it results in our quality of life. Inhaling Nutritional supplements vs antibiotics on a daily basis DEFINITELY is a life changer. 8 years later, and improving daily. =)

Let the record show that there ARE some upsides to CF. Here are my top 5.

1.You don’t have to be a math whiz to figure out that 20 years of coughing leads to one NICE set of abs. =)

2. I get to beat the living daylights out of my sweet sister twice a day, and ALL in the name of percussion.

3. Nasty congestion leads up to performances of Mozart's music in the form of nose blowing. Unbelievably entertaining.

4. I can eat, and eat, and eat and never get fat. Bring it, Calories!

5. Makes you stop and smell the roses. You don't take even the smallest things for granted. Breathing & birthdays are two big ones =) After struggling with CFAA (CF associated arthritis) from age 9-18 I walk and hold things with joy. Most people take for granted the ability to get out of bed and walk. Or pick up their kid. Thankfully I don't struggle with it anymore - PTL =)

I would like to give a shout out to Cystic Life – If you have CF, or are a parent, spouse, sibling or friend of someone who has Cystic Fibrosis, it is the ULTIMATE site! Check it out :) Ohhhh =) 2 'transplant' answers to prayer! Elijah (the little boy my sister Rebecca used to nanny for) got a heart transplant on Oct 2. He is doing great! & My CF friend Jordan got a lung transplant on Oct 1! Keep her in your prayers though, she's having a rough recovery & other health issues. I found it so amazing that those prayers were answered one day apart. God is SO awesome =)

A few weeks back, I randomly opened up the bible & read Romans 6. Blew, my mind. The thought of Christians who by grace have been saved, yet continuing to do what they've always done simply. doesn't. make. sense. Continuing in willful sin that we'll just have grace thrown at us? GOD FORBID. There is a big difference between willful sin (James 4:17), and accidentally screwing up now & then, which we ALL do. I was talking with a friend of mine, and we couldn't figure out when it became OK to do certain things. Remember back in the day when some things were abhorred by all and you just didn't do them because you know they were WRONG? Different actions, vocabulary, attitudes, mannerisms etc... It's a slow fade. Nobody just changes overnight into doing all the things that they knew were wrong. Slowly but surely - people & things around us associate sin with pleasure, and humor and we take the bait. The bible says to be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind. Ya. Anyway...just blew me away.

To close, I’ll leave you with an odd fact - There are more than 40,000 toilet related injuries in the United States every year. LOL, nawww I’ll leave you with a few words of wisdom from Ghandi – “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” =)

Sweetly smiling,
Aline

*Cystic Fibrosis*
State Of Mind

I am so grateful for the amount of time God has given me – I celebrated my 20th Birthday this May. So many kids never get to see that birthday, which breaks my heart. The CF community lost a dear soul last month. Connor Jones at the age of 7 got his CF wings & flew to heaven. RIP buddy. My heart goes out to Brad & Sarah…((hugs)) God will bring you through ♥

I’m so thankful that I was raised to live a healthy life by doing things naturally. Today is my 1-year anniversary of NO antibiotics!!! I get asked so often how it is that I’m so healthy. People who meet me have NO idea that I have CF. My clinic appointments go smoothly & quite frankly, can be done over the phone. I am on NO medications whatsoever. As a CFer my goal is to outlive any statistic. So, I take certain measures to make sure that happens.

**My CF Preventative Health Remedies**

In the last year, I have come across so many different things that help in maintaining good health & they are really simple. For example;

• * Gargling with salt water 2-3 times a week. It kills the bacterium that stays in the throat area for 3 days once exposed to. So if you do it twice a week, you’re good to go =)
• * Steam Rooms!! I typically go for a ‘steam tune up’ once or twice a month depending on how I feel. Some months I go more often…it really depends on how you’re doing. If you don't have a steam room in your area, simply boiling a pot of water & breathing over it (with a towel over your head & pot) for 15 minutes does the trick!
  
• * Raw Garlic =) Because of it’s Antibiotic properties, I like to have a spoon full of raw freshly pressed garlic 3-4 times per week. Keeps me off of harmful drugs that mess me up. As long as you brush your teeth & use a good mouthwash afterward, it’s undetectable! Make sure you don’t take it on an empty tummy – not a good idea!
• * Chest Physiotherapy. Kate & I also do therapy 1-2 times per day. Keeps the lungs clear =) to make it fun, we like to watch our favorite shows/movies to keep us entertained. Works VERY well :)
• * Physical exercise. SO important! I have a treadmill that I use twice a week. I run & run … love it! Also, having small nieces & nephews keeps me on my toes :) Physical exercise helps things keep moving, therefore making it harder for infection to set in.
• * Cough Tea. While in Virginia, my sister Helene came across a wonderful cough tea. You can purchase it from Bulk Herb Store. It has red clover tops, licorice root, and ginger root… it helps loosen phlegm, calm bronchial spasm & relieves respiratory congestion. I find it’s GREAT to take before bedtime.
• * Nutritional Supplements! I think it's pretty lame that Health Canada says I’m not allowed to say which ones on a public form. So much for freedom of speech. Just because I’m still alive, and not in the hospitals 24/7 I have to keep my mouth shut as to why I’m this healthy. Just read my CF story that I blogged several posts ago to see how nutritional supplements played a role in how I'm doing. Please message me if you want to know more =)

When I think of Cystic Fibrosis, and how people embrace it, it’s really all about your state of mind. Every person on earth is dealt different cards in life. Some are good, some not so good. There’s a saying that goes “it’s not the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the game”. There is so much truth to that.

Sure, I can choose to play the game of the victim. Technically I have an excuse to pin it on – Cystic Fibrosis. I can choose to be depressed in life, or angry with God because I have CF. People make decisions every day of their lives. They choose whether or not to wear a red or blue shirt – whether or not to skip breakfast – whether or not to take the stairs vs the elevator. They're tiny little decisions, but yet somehow they form our lives. Our whole world revolves around the choices we make.

Every single day I make a choice when I wake up. What will others see in me for the day? Will they see a victim of circumstance or a cheerful fighter? Will they see a happy go lucky girl, or a moody girl? I’m not saying that everyday is a basket of roses, and that CF doesn’t affect me, because it does. Some days…I’ll be honest, they suck. Completely. I’m down & ill and I feel like I’ve been pushed down a dark staircase. All I want to do is fight my way back up where I can see the light, and feel the freedom that comes with a healthy day. Thankfully there are more good days, then bad days. Praise the Lord!!!

So regardless of who you are, or what issues you face, whether it’s CF or something totally different, just know that YOU have the power to overcome any obstacle. Based on the little choices you make everyday. The choice to smile. The choice to never back down. The choice to fight. Fight for what’s right, never believe something just because a so-called wise person said it . Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true. Raise up others around you – be that shinning light that God wants to use. He created you for a reason.

Here's a little tip I thought I'd share with you - if a long life is something you want, then please, whenever possible, AVOID the hospital. Hospital acquired infections is the 4th largest killer in Canada & United States ... uncool.

Quote of the day "God gives every bird his worm, but He does not throw it into the nest."

Aline Elias

It’s Canada Day? No way. Cool.

{forgetfulness effects 5/5 people today}

Wow…the year is half over already! Where did the time go? I finally sat down & decided to update my blog – I realized I hadn’t blogged since I was in Virginia. Ahhh good times =) Kate & I have been home for a little over 2 months and we’re fully adjusted to being back in Canada again. It took time. Trust me…it did.

When I returned from D.C. I was discontent. It was everything in me to not board the plane back to Virginia with my sister.
On one hand, I missed my family more then words can express, but being out of my comfort zone for that long had instilled a bit of independence in me. I liked it…maybe a little too much. It’s not all that easy returning to your ‘box’ of life that you’ve been in for 20 years. Especially if that box, happens to be Winkler.

After a month of trying to readjust to life here, I was reminded, Phil 4:11 “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”. Once that set it, adjusting became self-evident to me.
I was still extremely annoyed with how things work here…the way people live, act, drive, and carry on. It's very different from how people are in VA. I came to realize that Winkler is it’s own culture. A culture that I’ve been defying ever since I learned to walk. As humorous as that might be, it’s true.
I’m happy being back with family, and my church, which I missed tremendously. It just took awhile to get my head out of cloud 9.
Who would have thought? I’m laughing as I type this…I had so many reservations and fears about leaving Canada in the first place, and here I am … wanting out. Again. I guess it just goes to show that the things you're most afraid of in life, are usually the most worth while.
A thought crossed my mind that seemed pretty brilliant to me, and that is; everyone at some point in their life, anytime after graduating, should go completely out of their comfort zone, to a place far away and just observe. Observe a different way of being, working & living. I think life is WAY to short to stay in our ‘box’ our whole lives. God gave us a BIG world – so go out and SEE it! Experience what God has given us :)

Virginia was amazing. In early March, we went to an NHL game (naturally) It was Washington Caps vs. Dallas Stars. It was an INCREDIBLE game, but the Caps lost. In a shoot out! I mean REALLY Ovechkin, of all the times to miss, you had to pick that day. {Shakes head} lol it was a great game though – lots of incredible energy & a great night out in D.C.

While in VA, Kate had her 18th Birthday, so we decided to make it an AWESOME day, and surprised her with a Limo that took us by the monuments in DC. It was so much fun!

A different day we came back into DC & went to the different Smithsonian museums. We even saw the Hope Diamond =) fun, Fun, FUN!!!

That said, my time away from home was amazing – it was a GREAT & healthy way to spend the winter. I had SO much fun living with the Welch’s & meeting new people :) I miss them very, very much. But I am very happy to be back at home with my other family. Getting to see my nieces & nephews every week is priceless.

We returned to Canada for Abe & Rebecca’s wedding, which was a BLAST! All us girls, together with our Mom, made several lasagna’s & LOADS of other food for the special day. Mmmm good! Abe also got baptized in the lake in June – we’re so proud of him! Welcome to the family Abe – you make it into slot # 21 =)

Speaking of slots, we’re expecting family member #22 in early October! Bill & Mel are expecting baby #3 =) Now, you all know how ‘right on’ I’ve been so far with guessing the babies gender – both boys. This time around, I have no gut feeling. None whatsoever. At this point, it’s 50/50. I’m just praying for a healthy & happy baby that will be named uniquely. By uniquely I mean NOT A MENNONITE NAME. No offense, I just think it’s this generation’s job to phase out the Johns, Jakes, Abe’s (sorry dude), Isaacs, Helen’s, Anne’s, Margaret’s, etc…

So far, all my nieces & nephews have been given wonderful names! Linaya, Alycen, Kristiana, Anderson & Trenton.

There’s nothing like feeling the new baby kick and move around. God’s miracles are so amazing. I’m grinning ear to ear just thinking of how Jesus is forming a little child in Melodie, that I get to meet really soon. I’m SO excited!

I've been reading in Job. Wow. That book of the bible has some deep stuff. My current goal is to learn to have the patience of Job. I've also been occasionally veering back to Genesis. The other day as I was reading Genesis 42-46, I realized that wow…Joseph was SO the bigger man. Lol the term “bigger man” my sisters & I use all the time for whoever rises above everyone though kindness, or hard work, or just being the bigger person in a situation. I was like WOW Joseph, way to go. I mean, not only did he have a colorful coat, which made him AWEsome, he also had amazing character.
With what his brothers put him through, he could have easily chosen to be bitter & eventually put them to death. Instead he had a little fun of his own, and eventually when the time came, he wept, and welcomed them with open arms. He told them not to feel grieved, or angry at what had happened. He saw that God had sent him ahead, and used him to preserve a generation for them and save their lives. I mean wow…way to step up and be the bigger man.

A few weeks ago, I looked out on the road, and I saw this wee little fox trotting around. Our dog saw it soon after I had, and decided to chase it around. This little guy, which we later named “Kristofferson”, was a runt, and was wet & cold. He couldn’t outrun our dog – so our dog chased & chased him all the way to our house. We felt bad for the little guy, so we coaxed him in a live trap, and took the dog away, and let him free to his family. His mother & 2 siblings had been trotting around the yard, sniffing & looking for their lost fox.
I just love the wildlife we have around our place. We’ve had foxes, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, groundhogs, raccoons, deer, skunks & snakes. Everything about the living the country life is just, so, random =) I love it!!!

On that note, I’m logging off for now. I’ve been reading through an AWESOME book that Helene got me called “Preparing To Be A Help Meet” by Debi Pearl. It is so good; I recommend it to any girl – married or unmarried. It's also great material for a women bible study!

I'll leave this with an encouraging tweet from L.L. Cool J that I love: “I can choose to indulge in my frustrations or I can choose to create a habit of happiness” Have a great Canada Day =)

Aline

*Cystic Fibrosis*

In memory of all our Cystic Fibrosis Angels, who have already gotten their wings.

"God saw you were getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So he put his arms around you
And whispered "come to me".
With tearful eyes
We watched you,
And saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest,
God broke our hearts
to prove to us,
He only takes the best."

You will never be forgotten Gracie. You are loved & missed dearly. Rest In Peace.

Breathe Easy,
♥ Aline ♥