So, it has definitely been a while since I've posted anything on here. I didn't realize my last post was February 14! I realized today that my birthday was coming up pretty soon... it's Tuesday, March 24. And, I'll be turning 24. For those of you who don't know what that means (to be turning 24 on the 24th), it's a GOLDEN BIRTHDAY. Your golden birthday is just the age you're turning and the day... like, if you were turning 28 on the 28th of some month, that'd be your golden birthday. Alright, so anyways, I'll be spending my birthday in Paris, France with my good pal, roommate, and teammate, Melanie. We planned this trip and booked the flight sometime in January and I honestly thought it wouldn't have come this quickly, but it has and I can't believe it's already here!
So, for the past 4-5 days, we've had some people from Tennessee (Lipscomb University) and they've been putting on a campaign (it's just a type of mission retreat thing). They're here until Saturday (21st). We've had the pleasure of housing one of the girls, Amy. It's been a blast being with this group of girls and couple of guys. Today, I had the strangest feeling... we were outside of a primary school cleaning up some branches and leaves. I heard sirens in the background, American accents, and for a moment, I felt like I was in America. I had a sadness come over me that I had never felt before.
It made me realize I only have 13 weeks left in Scotland. It made me realize that I almost didn't want to hear the American accent for much longer than that. It made me realize that I had absolutely fallen in love with Scotland, the people, the work, and the atmosphere that comes along with it. No, not the weather. Just the vibe you get from everyday living. I can't exactly explain it, but you'd know if you've ever lived in a different country and being around "your people" and realizing your time is coming to an end. Anyways, so, I got really sad and it made me feel all sorts of weird things, like... not wanting to go home just yet, but at the same time still wanting to. It's just so hard to explain the feeling I had to those who haven't been in my shoes... to those who have been here where I've been... then you know exactly what I mean.
The past week has been awesome. However, I think I've gained back some pounds from eating so much junk that I haven't eaten since December! haha... I guess that's what happens when you're never home, eating whatever the people put in front of you, and just not eating healthy at all. I'll be glad once I get back from Paris to get back into the swing of things. I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel. I'm a lot more sluggish, tired, and always wanting to sleep... as opposed to when I ate healthy, I was ready for the day, chipper, bouncy, and wide awake. So, I'm ready to get back into that groove. The sweets, loads of carbs, and unhealthiness of this week has really had it's toll on me and I'm ready for the healthiness to be back. haha...
Another crazy thing, my sister is actually old enough to try out for high school cheerleader. So, try outs were last week and I call her up the following day to see if we're supposed to be sad or if we're happy and turns out, we're happy and she ended up making the cheerleading squad. Way cool and I'm really excited for her. Except... she should really stop copying my life. :P It's crazy how much our lives are alike, especially when I was in high school and now her... things are the same with the two of us. Pretty cool though! I love it. :)
Well, I have no other random thoughts running through my head... I hope you weren't looking for something inspiring or something like that, because this is nothing of the sort. :) Just an update on my life and what I'm thinking/feeling. I'll be updating this soon with my February & March newsletter. I'm putting two together because I felt like each month was redundant. I kept saying the same exact things and I didn't want you to have to go through the annoyance of reading the same things as I would be in annoyance writing it all over again to you. hehe
Enjoy the rest of the week, as I will, and have a blessed weekend! I'll be writing again soon about my trip to Paris and how it was to turn 24 years old there in France. :)
Until next time, love to you all...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
One year ago...
One year ago, today, I was on a 30+ hour bus ride heading back to Lubbock from Mexico City. I was probably sleeping due to taking sleeping pills in order to be well-rested enough to leave the next day around 4:30 am for Winterfest in Tennessee. I was in a relationship. I was living in Lubbock, Texas in an apartment with Sasha Chalco. I was on a team headed to South Africa. I found it incredibly hard to allow myself to trust in others, to open up, to become vulnerable, and to love.
I never would’ve thought I’d be where I am today… Not on a bus. Not going to Tennessee. Not sleeping because of sleeping pills. Not in a relationship. Not living in Lubbock or with Sasha. Not on the South Africa team (but did live there for about three months).
But, TODAY, I am better. I am stronger. I am wiser. I do live in East Kilbride, Scotland in a flat with Melanie Huggins, my first AIM roommate. I am on the Scotland team, instead. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason. I am fully dependent on God. I know that God has a plan for everything. I absolutely adore and love my family (living overseas has strengthened that; I miss them terribly!). I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing, exactly where I was meant to be, and looking forward to all the great things in the next four and a half months I have left here in Scotland. I love without fear of getting hurt. I open up and become vulnerable to people so they will open up and become vulnerable in return. I trust more each day. I have a new outlook on life and my purpose. Seems to me, that I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. God has brought some amazing people into my life that have shown me that it’s okay to love, to trust, to open up and be vulnerable. I’ve learned a lot and I am so thankful for everything.
Over the past year, I’ve really struggled and have been through so many things I never thought I’d ever have to go through. I’ve been hurt in ways I never wanted to hurt again. I opened myself up and made myself vulnerable to someone I loved, only to be shut down in the end. I had an experience (let’s say, several experiences) in South Africa that has forever changed my life. My mind has had millions of thoughts go through it that led to stressful and worrisome days and nights. I’ve been pulled in hundreds of different ways on what to do, say, think, or feel.
BUT
The past is the past. The future isn’t here. The present is here. I’m thankful for the bad things that happened over the past year. I’m thankful for all the good things that have happened. I really am blessed by God. How many times do I overlook the GOOD things that happen? And, why is it that it’s easier to remember the bad things over the good? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I wish it was that way, but I guess as human beings, we remember the bad better than the good. When I think of the song, “Count your blessings,” I wonder to myself… how many times in a day do I really sit down and count my blessings? Hmm… not very many, if any at all! Shame on me.
Blessings are all around me. I have a roof over my head, a bed, a radiator that works, blankets, air to breathe, a locked door, another day to be alive, legs to walk, hands to write and type and hold hands with other people, eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth, teeth, and tongue to eat with, I’m healthy, clothing, shoes, financially stable, a supportive family, wonderful friends, the trees, the flowers that are planted along the path that I’m able to smell when spring rolls around, snow to look at out my windows, sunshine, the stars, I’m safe… I could keep going on with all the blessings and good things in my life! So, the good outweighs the bad all the time. Because, God is good ALL THE TIME.
Until next time, love to you all…
I never would’ve thought I’d be where I am today… Not on a bus. Not going to Tennessee. Not sleeping because of sleeping pills. Not in a relationship. Not living in Lubbock or with Sasha. Not on the South Africa team (but did live there for about three months).
But, TODAY, I am better. I am stronger. I am wiser. I do live in East Kilbride, Scotland in a flat with Melanie Huggins, my first AIM roommate. I am on the Scotland team, instead. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason. I am fully dependent on God. I know that God has a plan for everything. I absolutely adore and love my family (living overseas has strengthened that; I miss them terribly!). I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing, exactly where I was meant to be, and looking forward to all the great things in the next four and a half months I have left here in Scotland. I love without fear of getting hurt. I open up and become vulnerable to people so they will open up and become vulnerable in return. I trust more each day. I have a new outlook on life and my purpose. Seems to me, that I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. God has brought some amazing people into my life that have shown me that it’s okay to love, to trust, to open up and be vulnerable. I’ve learned a lot and I am so thankful for everything.
Over the past year, I’ve really struggled and have been through so many things I never thought I’d ever have to go through. I’ve been hurt in ways I never wanted to hurt again. I opened myself up and made myself vulnerable to someone I loved, only to be shut down in the end. I had an experience (let’s say, several experiences) in South Africa that has forever changed my life. My mind has had millions of thoughts go through it that led to stressful and worrisome days and nights. I’ve been pulled in hundreds of different ways on what to do, say, think, or feel.
BUT
The past is the past. The future isn’t here. The present is here. I’m thankful for the bad things that happened over the past year. I’m thankful for all the good things that have happened. I really am blessed by God. How many times do I overlook the GOOD things that happen? And, why is it that it’s easier to remember the bad things over the good? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I wish it was that way, but I guess as human beings, we remember the bad better than the good. When I think of the song, “Count your blessings,” I wonder to myself… how many times in a day do I really sit down and count my blessings? Hmm… not very many, if any at all! Shame on me.
Blessings are all around me. I have a roof over my head, a bed, a radiator that works, blankets, air to breathe, a locked door, another day to be alive, legs to walk, hands to write and type and hold hands with other people, eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth, teeth, and tongue to eat with, I’m healthy, clothing, shoes, financially stable, a supportive family, wonderful friends, the trees, the flowers that are planted along the path that I’m able to smell when spring rolls around, snow to look at out my windows, sunshine, the stars, I’m safe… I could keep going on with all the blessings and good things in my life! So, the good outweighs the bad all the time. Because, God is good ALL THE TIME.
Until next time, love to you all…
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Footprints in the sand
This is a song I happened to come across while searching for new music to buy on iTunes. Great lyrics, great song, and so true about our loving Savior. Enjoy.
By: Leona Lewis
You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I’m going
You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much I no along the way
Then I heard you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid ooh
And just when I
Have thought I’ve lost my way
You give me strength to carry on
That’s when I heard you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
When I’m weary
Well I no you’ll be there
And I can feel you
When you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
By: Leona Lewis
You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I’m going
You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much I no along the way
Then I heard you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid ooh
And just when I
Have thought I’ve lost my way
You give me strength to carry on
That’s when I heard you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
When I’m weary
Well I no you’ll be there
And I can feel you
When you say
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Well, that's interesting!
1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat
the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9 Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative
colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal
ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood).
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormones.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity.
44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in
the body.
59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
62. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning
disorders.
74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. Sugar can cause depression.
76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over
the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
81. High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others
become overactive.
86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.
91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. Sugar feeds cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold
increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
95. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes
in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon
cancer.
97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. Sugar is an addictive substance.
101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they
produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it
does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
117. Sugar may induce cell death.
118. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet,
there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.
121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
122. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
123. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia.
125. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
126. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
128. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
129. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
130. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
132. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
134. Sugar causes constipation.
135. Sugar causes varicous veins.
136. Sugar can cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.
137. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
138. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
140. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel
syndrome.
142. Sugar could affect central reward systems.
143. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.
144. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.
145. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
146. Sugar can cause liver tumors.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat
the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9 Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative
colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal
ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood).
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormones.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity.
44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in
the body.
59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
62. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning
disorders.
74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. Sugar can cause depression.
76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over
the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
81. High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others
become overactive.
86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.
91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. Sugar feeds cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold
increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
95. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes
in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon
cancer.
97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. Sugar is an addictive substance.
101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they
produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it
does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
117. Sugar may induce cell death.
118. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet,
there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.
121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
122. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
123. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia.
125. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
126. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
128. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
129. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
130. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
132. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
134. Sugar causes constipation.
135. Sugar causes varicous veins.
136. Sugar can cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.
137. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
138. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
140. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel
syndrome.
142. Sugar could affect central reward systems.
143. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.
144. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.
145. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
146. Sugar can cause liver tumors.
Random things I have to say
In addition to the previous blog, I had written about the upcoming possibilities I would have in terms of a job, I also have the opportunity to become a teacher's aide, IF and only IF a job opens up, which leads to another opportunity that I, unfortunately, can't speak about at the moment, hehehe. I'm super excited about all the possibilities I have, but it makes it almost hard. Luckily, my life and future lies in God's hands. So, no need to stress, right?? I wish it was that easy, but as a human being, I stress and worry. The past few days have been less overwhelming and stressful, so I've really and truly been blessed. I really feel that God has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. Such a great feeling not worrying/stressing/feeling overwhelmed. I love it! :)
I'm also going to be trying something new with my diet. A little experiment, you could say. I'm going to attempt to cut out all the chocolate, soda pop, and unhealthy things like that. More water, less caffeine! We'll see how it goes. I'll be starting this tomorrow. I'm excited and a little not-so-sure at the same time, only because I don't know how long it will last. hehe. However, my teammate and friend, Zach, has done an amazing job of not consuming unhealthy things; I thought I'd try to do the same. I've been going to the gym as well, but not on a regular basis. I, maybe, go about 3-4 times a week, which I'm hoping to increase to 5-6 times a week (a little cardio, walking, weight-lifting, ab work). So, wish me luck!
If you have the chance to purchase any David Gray music, please do so! He's absolutely amazing and has really relaxed me the past few days. I've been listening to his music and really feel more at peace. Music is a huge part of my life. When I'm sad, mad, upset, homesick, irritated, annoyed, etc., I turn to music (and, God, of course), but music plays a part as well in calming my nerves. David Gray is good! Download him if you're able to.
Do you ever feel like you get into a routine and you can never get out of that routine? If so, me too! I've been feeling like the past few weeks are just a routine, like, I'm almost not into what I do. I just go because it's "routine." That's bad! I'm hoping to take one of the days that I have off this week to relax and do something on my own, like... shopping! I enjoy shopping and it's not so stressful to be in the mall on a Thursday. I like to browse around and watch people. I don't necessarily go to shop and buy things. Most of the time, I go to just browse. I enjoy being out of the flat and around other people and on my own for a change. A girl's got to have that sometimes. I'm hoping my "get-away" day will get me out of this routine-groove and back into a more enthusiastic attitude.
That's all I have for now... stuff just started going through my mind and I wanted to let it out somehow, so it came as a blog. :)
Until next time, love to you all...
I'm also going to be trying something new with my diet. A little experiment, you could say. I'm going to attempt to cut out all the chocolate, soda pop, and unhealthy things like that. More water, less caffeine! We'll see how it goes. I'll be starting this tomorrow. I'm excited and a little not-so-sure at the same time, only because I don't know how long it will last. hehe. However, my teammate and friend, Zach, has done an amazing job of not consuming unhealthy things; I thought I'd try to do the same. I've been going to the gym as well, but not on a regular basis. I, maybe, go about 3-4 times a week, which I'm hoping to increase to 5-6 times a week (a little cardio, walking, weight-lifting, ab work). So, wish me luck!
If you have the chance to purchase any David Gray music, please do so! He's absolutely amazing and has really relaxed me the past few days. I've been listening to his music and really feel more at peace. Music is a huge part of my life. When I'm sad, mad, upset, homesick, irritated, annoyed, etc., I turn to music (and, God, of course), but music plays a part as well in calming my nerves. David Gray is good! Download him if you're able to.
Do you ever feel like you get into a routine and you can never get out of that routine? If so, me too! I've been feeling like the past few weeks are just a routine, like, I'm almost not into what I do. I just go because it's "routine." That's bad! I'm hoping to take one of the days that I have off this week to relax and do something on my own, like... shopping! I enjoy shopping and it's not so stressful to be in the mall on a Thursday. I like to browse around and watch people. I don't necessarily go to shop and buy things. Most of the time, I go to just browse. I enjoy being out of the flat and around other people and on my own for a change. A girl's got to have that sometimes. I'm hoping my "get-away" day will get me out of this routine-groove and back into a more enthusiastic attitude.
That's all I have for now... stuff just started going through my mind and I wanted to let it out somehow, so it came as a blog. :)
Until next time, love to you all...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
It's been a while!
For those of you who may not know the newest news, I have decided to move back to Texas on July 1st. That’s the earliest we can leave the field to prepare for college, a job, etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the field here, I’m just ready to get back to the States and start a job. I have several opportunities that lie in front of me, so I’m trying to keep my options open at the moment, but realize I have to make a decision soon because I’ll be leaving in less than five months!
I have been looking into getting my teaching certificate through a program called iteachTexas. It’s web-based and takes 6-months to complete. During the 6-month period, I’ll be taking different courses as well as working a full-time job as a teacher. It’s a probation-certificate which just means, “I’m working on my certificate and will have it very soon.” So, that’s an option and will probably happen this year or next depending on how things work out.
Another option is to work as a substitute teacher where I’ll be able to sub anywhere from three to five days a week and with having a college degree, I’ll be paid more than a sub without a degree would. Kind of strange because I don’t think subs really do all that much, but hey, I’m not complaining! :)
I’m also looking into subbing as well as doing something else on the side, but nothing I want to really bring up at the moment until I get the “official” word that it’s do-able! If it’s possible, I’ll for sure jump into it and then let you all know what it is I’ll be doing! :)
It’s been the most stressful and overwhelming time of my life; the time where I have to decide what I want to be when I grow-up. Haha. I’ve experienced the social work part of my degree that I actually went to college for, but unfortunately, during my internship I realized that I probably made the wrong decision, but it was obviously way too late to change my mind and go a different direction because I had three months left until graduating from college.
What I realized about social work was that there was way too much paperwork involved and not enough interaction with the people around me. I’m a people-person and this job spends more time in the office than with people. It wasn’t for me and probably never will be. The difference between a teaching certificate and a social work degree is that with a certificate, I’ll be around kids all day long. It will be my job to be around people and I love that!
I’ve been working with primary one here in Scotland. Primary one is the same as kindergarten. It’s just a different name for it. I have really fallen in love with the children and it has opened my eyes to the world of teaching. I think it’s something I would love, enjoy, and look forward to each and everyday. Children can be a handful sometimes, but that’s a known fact already! :) I’m really looking forward to seeing where God places me and how He’s going to work through me in the next few months.
So, my flight back to Texas will be with a really good and old friend of mine from high school. Before I planned on moving back for good on July 1st, I was planning to visit July 1st – 24th, so my ticket was already bought and so, I got to thinking, maybe someone could come visit that last week of June and fly back to the States with me to surprise my family (no one knew I was planning this “surprise” trip other than my mom). I messaged Kayla Graham and she was so excited and we jumped on this idea of her coming to visit that last week in June and it worked out great, because she doesn’t like to fly alone anyways, so luckily I was able to plan the flights back on July 1st to where we could sit by each other on each flight (Glasgow to Manchester to Chicago to Dallas to Amarillo). But, now that I’m leaving for good on that day, it still worked out perfectly. Sure, I bought a roundtrip ticket, BUT come to find out, this ticket is $500-$600 cheaper than a one-way ticket would have been. I guess it worked out in a good way!
My high school buddy, Kayla, will be arriving in Glasgow on June 24th and leaving with me on July 1st at 7am from Glasgow. We’ll be arriving in Amarillo on July 1st at 8:10pm. During the week she’s here, I’m hoping to be able to take her to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and possibly one other place that I haven’t decided on where we should go yet. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to see her!
Because we have three weeks worth of vacation/holiday time while we are here in Scotland, Melanie and I have decided to take 3-days off and head to Paris, France for my birthday. We’ll be leaving March 23rd and arriving back here on the 26th. We plan on visiting the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, a couple other churches, the Louvre, and no telling what else! It will be really neat to see the sights and have a few days of rest and a break.
So, I guess that’s all I really have for now. :) I’m actually thoughtless right now! I hope each of you know how much you’re loved, missed, and thought of by me! Have a blessed day!
Until next time, love to you all…
I have been looking into getting my teaching certificate through a program called iteachTexas. It’s web-based and takes 6-months to complete. During the 6-month period, I’ll be taking different courses as well as working a full-time job as a teacher. It’s a probation-certificate which just means, “I’m working on my certificate and will have it very soon.” So, that’s an option and will probably happen this year or next depending on how things work out.
Another option is to work as a substitute teacher where I’ll be able to sub anywhere from three to five days a week and with having a college degree, I’ll be paid more than a sub without a degree would. Kind of strange because I don’t think subs really do all that much, but hey, I’m not complaining! :)
I’m also looking into subbing as well as doing something else on the side, but nothing I want to really bring up at the moment until I get the “official” word that it’s do-able! If it’s possible, I’ll for sure jump into it and then let you all know what it is I’ll be doing! :)
It’s been the most stressful and overwhelming time of my life; the time where I have to decide what I want to be when I grow-up. Haha. I’ve experienced the social work part of my degree that I actually went to college for, but unfortunately, during my internship I realized that I probably made the wrong decision, but it was obviously way too late to change my mind and go a different direction because I had three months left until graduating from college.
What I realized about social work was that there was way too much paperwork involved and not enough interaction with the people around me. I’m a people-person and this job spends more time in the office than with people. It wasn’t for me and probably never will be. The difference between a teaching certificate and a social work degree is that with a certificate, I’ll be around kids all day long. It will be my job to be around people and I love that!
I’ve been working with primary one here in Scotland. Primary one is the same as kindergarten. It’s just a different name for it. I have really fallen in love with the children and it has opened my eyes to the world of teaching. I think it’s something I would love, enjoy, and look forward to each and everyday. Children can be a handful sometimes, but that’s a known fact already! :) I’m really looking forward to seeing where God places me and how He’s going to work through me in the next few months.
So, my flight back to Texas will be with a really good and old friend of mine from high school. Before I planned on moving back for good on July 1st, I was planning to visit July 1st – 24th, so my ticket was already bought and so, I got to thinking, maybe someone could come visit that last week of June and fly back to the States with me to surprise my family (no one knew I was planning this “surprise” trip other than my mom). I messaged Kayla Graham and she was so excited and we jumped on this idea of her coming to visit that last week in June and it worked out great, because she doesn’t like to fly alone anyways, so luckily I was able to plan the flights back on July 1st to where we could sit by each other on each flight (Glasgow to Manchester to Chicago to Dallas to Amarillo). But, now that I’m leaving for good on that day, it still worked out perfectly. Sure, I bought a roundtrip ticket, BUT come to find out, this ticket is $500-$600 cheaper than a one-way ticket would have been. I guess it worked out in a good way!
My high school buddy, Kayla, will be arriving in Glasgow on June 24th and leaving with me on July 1st at 7am from Glasgow. We’ll be arriving in Amarillo on July 1st at 8:10pm. During the week she’s here, I’m hoping to be able to take her to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and possibly one other place that I haven’t decided on where we should go yet. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to see her!
Because we have three weeks worth of vacation/holiday time while we are here in Scotland, Melanie and I have decided to take 3-days off and head to Paris, France for my birthday. We’ll be leaving March 23rd and arriving back here on the 26th. We plan on visiting the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, a couple other churches, the Louvre, and no telling what else! It will be really neat to see the sights and have a few days of rest and a break.
So, I guess that’s all I really have for now. :) I’m actually thoughtless right now! I hope each of you know how much you’re loved, missed, and thought of by me! Have a blessed day!
Until next time, love to you all…
Monday, February 2, 2009
January Newsletter
NEW HAPPENINGS.
There are a couple of things that have just begun this month that are new to me and I haven’t been a part of while being here. The ladies of the church have decided to meet every other Wednesday at Alex and Gillian Gear’s home (our coordinators). For the two times we met this month, we first discussed what we would like to study and had a prayer night on the other night. We will be studying out of a book that goes along with the books: Ruth and Esther. The book we decided to read is called, “Be Committed: Doing God’s Will Whatever the Cost.” It sounds like it will be an interesting study and I’m really excited about learning more about the books Ruth and Esther. I’ve never actually sat down and studied these two books of the Bible, but it’s about time I did! I’m looking forward to it.
The youth nights for the high school and college aged kids are held every other Friday (the Fridays that don’t fall on the same weeks we meet for ladies’ study). For the past two weeks, we have had several youth from our church come, but they’ve also invited friends to come along as well. We’ve really had a great turn out each time. We hold these nights at the community hall, which is the building the church meets at every Sunday and Tuesday. We play ping-pong, foosball, Wii, Xbox, card games (Uno, spoons, etc.), Jenga, chess, and lots of other things. Snacks and soda are provided at each youth night at a very low price. There’s talk of holding a movie night some night and having pop corn and soda. It really seems like this is a great outreach to those out in the community and everyone seems to have a great time as well.
BURNS SUPPER.
Because I don’t really know much about Robert Burns or why there is a Burns supper or Burns night, I researched it on Wikipedia and found this.
Robert Burns (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favorite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement and after his death became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.
Burns Night, effectively a second national day, is celebrated on January 25th with Burns suppers around the world. The format of Burns suppers has not changed since Robert's death in 1796. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Robert's famous “Address to a Haggis” is read and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the "immortal memory", an overview of Robert's life and work, is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
We celebrated Burns night at Vicki Onsaturday’s home. There was a crock pot full of haggis, mashed potatoes, and mashed turnips/carrots. Tom Brydson did the piping and cutting of the haggis. He did, indeed, read “Address to a Haggis” where he got so into it and right before cutting the haggis, his dentures popped right out of his mouth and onto the floor! We had a good laugh, as did he, but continued on and cut open the haggis. However, we didn’t sing Auld Lang Syne at the conclusion of the night, but we did sing along as Drew Phillips played his guitar. Mixtures of Scottish and American tunes were played. It was an amazing night of fellowship!
WHAT’S HAGGIS?
There are many recipes, most of which have in common the following ingredients: sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet (which is raw beef or mutton fat), spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. That’s exactly what we had at Burns night. It’s quite good mixed in with mashed potatoes! Another modern haggis-based dish is 'Flying Scotsman', which is chicken stuffed with haggis. I have also tried this with a peppercorn sauce and it is absolutely delicious! I’ve had haggis only three times while being here.
UPDATES ON THE WORK.
While working at the primary school, I’ve started to learn the teachers’ names (almost all of them, and there are quite a few), which has been difficult because I’m in one area of the school all day. But, it has gotten to the point where teachers will ask for me, by name, to come and help every afternoon with their class. Every Wednesday afternoon, I work with Miss Robertson’s primary one and two class with painting. I have never seen kids so excited to see me and always asking, “Can I be with you?” I have a blast painting with them and getting to know them better each time. They’re such a joy and so innocent. They serve as reminders for me to always be child-like in faith.
ShopMobility is such a blast! The elderly have really gotten to know me and vice versa. It’s been a pleasure working on the bus and I couldn’t imagine myself being stuck in the office part of the job! A lady named, Nancy, was on the bus one Monday (she’s normally on Wednesdays and Fridays), but she had said something to Alex (driver of the bus) and Louise (worker/driver of the bus when Alex isn’t there) that, she “can tell that she [Neysia] loves her job by the way she smiles all the time. She’s good.” Being like Jesus really does make a difference and I can only give him credit for the way I am in everything I do. People are watching you all the time.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I can never thank you enough for all that you have done and continue to do for me and for the work being done here in Scotland. God is really being glorified through your support! Thanks for making a difference with me!
Prayer requests:
* Our families
* Our team and the work being done in East Kilbride
* Michael Todd still recovering
* West Mains Church of Christ
* 2007-2010 AIMers on the field:
-Albania
-New Zealand
-Mexico (3 teams)
-Honduras
-South Africa
-Grass Valley, California
-Childress, Texas
Until next time, love to you all...
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