Gummy Vitamins, Safflower Oil...A Health Mish Mash

I've taken multivitamins for a few years now, and one of the major troubles I've had with them is how HUGE they are. I have problems swallowing pills that big, so I've tried other things: chewables for kids and chewables for adults. With the chewables, the trouble was the taste. They are sooooo sour, it would make my cheeks ache when I chewed them. I'd sometimes skip them just to save myself the misery. But guess what? I found GUMMY vitamins, and they are YUMMY. They have no yucky after-taste and they taste like candy. Now that's a good for me kind of "pill" I can swallow.

I was also thinking about the safflower oil. I'm still using it, but I haven't checked the ol' waist measurement to see if anything is happening. It really doesn't appear that it is since my clothes still fit the same: tight. But, I'm keeping to it and hope it helps in some way. Eventually.

I'm also still taming The Beast (aka treadmill). I try to walk on that thing at least three times a week for thirty minutes, but it is boring and tedious. I can stay on longer, and in a happier mood, if I listen to Sarah Groves while I walk, but I think I sound funny to my family when I do that. I wear my headphones, and sing along in harmony. But they only hear my part. He he he. I figure, if I have to suffer, they can, too.

One more thing: I'm getting a new glucose meter! Hoo boy, you might be thinking, this gal has nothing exciting in her life if that makes her happy. But if you saw my dinosaur of a meter, you'd know how glad I am. The old one is at least fifty feet wide and seventy feet long. Okay, so I exaggerate, but listen, the new one is promised to be small and compact--and--it self loads! Wooie.

So that's all my health news for now. I promise to keep you updated...I know you can hardly wait.

ACORN at My Door?

I was concerned when I read that the group ACORN had been chosen to help with the 2010 census. I wasn't too keen on giving my personal info to that group. To find out if this was still a possibility, in light of the groups troubles last year, I wrote my representative, Jim Jordan. Here is his thoughtful and in-depth reply:

February 12, 2010


Dear Ms. Yoder:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). This organization has flaunted American election law and used taxpayer dollars for illicit purposes. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me, and I welcome the opportunity to provide you with an update.

For years, ACORN has been criticized for being complicit in voter fraud, particularly in the last Presidential election. But they have never truly been punished. Those of us who believe the right to vote is sacred, and free-and-fair elections guarantee our most basic American freedoms, recognize that systematic voter fraud committed by members of ACORN and their leadership causes our whole democracy to suffer.

ACORN's roots are deeply planted in radical socialism. The group's history is one of irresponsible and untrustworthy behavior, including corruption, embezzlement, cover-ups, and misuse of taxpayer funds. Their most recent scandal was revealed by two student-aged investigative reporters who used undercover video to expose ACORN workers providing advice on how to avoid federal tax laws in order to run a prostitution ring from an ACORN-sponsored home.

Since the release of these eye-opening tapes, the U.S. Census has cut ties with ACORN, and both the U.S. House and Senate have taken action to strip federal funding from ACORN in current appropriations bills. Congressman Darrell Issa, the top-ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Congressman Lamar Smith, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee have both announced plans for an investigation into ACORN's corruption.

In other legislative efforts, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has proposed a bill to prohibit the distribution of taxpayer dollars to any individual or organization that is under indictment for violation under federal or state law for election fraud. Along with Congresswoman Bachmann, Congressman John Boehner of Ohio has led the effort to block all government funds to ACORN until federal investigations are complete. As a supporter of this effort, I have become a co-sponsor of the bill and will continue working toward its adoption.

Our assessment of the current situation is that, while all of the efforts to de-fund ACORN are welcome, it is imperative that we continue to keep a watchful eye to make sure the politicians in Washington D.C. don't somehow sneak the money back into the bills. Remember, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her House Democrat leadership has ignored or outright defended ACORN through all of their previous scandals, only recently buckling to public pressure to act once the undercover investigative videotapes were released.

As your Congressman, I will make sure that I do everything necessary to protect our freedom to vote in an untainted and impartial election. Be assured that as the continuing investigation into ACORN progresses, I will make sure to closely monitor the situation.

I hope you will find this information helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any other concerns or questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (202) 225-2676, or by e-mail through our website at http://jordan.house.gov.

Sincerely,Jim JordanMember of Congress

Sincerely,
Jim Jordan
Member of Congress

Humble Pie and Ice Cream

I have a friend who recently went through some tough times. She had to eat a little humble pie, as she called it. It was hard on her, and as is true of all of us, caused her emotional pain and a little embarrassment, too. Who hasn’t been there?

What struck me about my friend’s attitude was the statement she made after all the stress had settled. She wrote: " the beauty of Christianity and fellow Christians-in the world when we eat humble pie, people want to keep dishing it out to you-but our brothers and sisters in the Lord, want to take your "humble pie" and give you ice cream instead".

I love that! I think it shows a heart that is willing to learn and grow from mistakes, and more than that, a heart that understands the beauty of forgiveness.

It made me think of myself. Have I been willing to serve those who’ve "wronged" me the ice cream of forgiveness after they’ve had to eat a slice of humble pie? Or do I continue to want to serve up pie until my own feelings of retribution and revenge have been satisfied?

I want to be a servant who dishes out ice cream. How about you? Here's a parable Jesus told us about forgiveness:

At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"

Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'

"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt.

And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."
Matthew 18:21-32 (The Message)

I Tawt I Taw a...Robin?

There's snow everywhere...I mean EVERYWHERE. It's hard to believe that spring might be anywhere near Ohio right now. So imagine my surprise when I THOUGHT I saw a robin today in the huge old tree across the street! Wow. I ran to get the binoculars, but by the time I got back, the elusive robin was gone--if that was indeed what it was.

Even if it wasn't really a robin, it did give me hope that perhaps robins are on their way...maybe they've filed their flight patterns already and are thinking they might as well head north since there's snow in the south anyway.

I have to have hope, y'know. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to crawl under the covers and hibernate for six more weeks.

Happy spring! Soon.

The New Fridge is Here

Well, it's here! And guess what? I LOVE it! Tons more space for storing foods. I love the freezer on the bottom because now I don't have dark recesses for the fridge part that I have to bend in half to see. You wouldn't believe some of the things I found WAY back in that section of my old fridge.

Habits are hard to break, though, so I still tend to walk to the fridge and try to grab the door handle on the left, where my old fridge opened. But I'm getting used to the new appliance and liking how quiet it is and especially all the lights! I can SEE in my freezer--actually SEE. What an awesome concept.

I'm a happy camper--and pleased with my new kitchen appliance. It may be the ONLY new thing I get this year, but it's a good one.