"Grow Your Own Drugstore"

Lenny was flipping through my 'vacation' magazine (June 7 th issue of Woman's World) and came across a wonderful tip for poison ivy itching.

Find an impatiens plant, slice the stem and rub the inside on the poison ivy itch.

It works amazingly well.

You can smooth wrinkles with chamomile by steeping 1 t fresh or dried blossoms in 1 cup hot water for 15-20 minutes, strain and pat on as a facial wash.

The scent of geraniums bring on happy hormones with the added bonus of keeping mosquitos away.

Aloe is great for burns. Just break off a stalk and squeeze the gel right onto the burn.

Sniffing basil boosts energy, reduces migraines and eases depression.

Fill an old sock with the flowers, leaves and roots of ground ivy, hang it on the faucet as you fill your tub and soak for 20 minutes. This will ease back pain and sciatica and also give you softer skin.

Chickweed relieves itches, bee stings and bug bites. Slice open the stem and apply.

Find your joy, peace, happiness and natural remedies while working in your garden enjoying the fresh air, sunshine and earth!
God's bounty is right at our fingertips!

Have a Happy Day!

Rediscover Walking Outdoors

Putting my feet on the earth.

Enjoying fresh air and sunshine!

Clearing my head.

Finding time to truly be thankful.

Strengthening my heart.

Working my muscles.

All because I can!

The wonderful blessing of walking outdoors.

I think there is something to say about feeling the earth beneath our feet and the air all around us.

Marvelling at God's great big, beautiful world!

And even the tiny things of nature~like tiny flowers beside the road or a bunny scurrying into the bush.

Or even the workings of a city street.

All created by a loving God.

And we get to enjoy it as much as we want!

Here are a few ideas to spruce up your walking routine:

1. Warm up at a moderate pace for a few minutes.
~Speed up to a fast pace and really pump your arms.
~Slow down to a moderate pace.
~Speed up again and add long stride walking lunges. (Ignore the passing cars~After all, YOU are the ONE exercising!)
REPEAT EACH STEP for as long as you want but at least 20 minutes.

2. Another great walking routine is actually a walk/run routine where you:
~warm up for a few minutes
~and then run for a 1/2 mile
~and then walk at a brisk pace for a 1/2 mile
~continuing to alternate the run/walk for a total of 4 miles.
*time yourself and try to beat your time.
* I did this routine for many years with a few faithful partners and it never got boring as we tried to beat our time each time and we would add walking lunges periodically.
*Vary your route if you have to in order to get a few hills in and to make it exciting.

3. Walk at the local high school or college track and walk up and down the bleachers in between laps.

4. Find an area close by where you can go hiking. The closest metro or state park may have some really good trails.
~Bring along a child and find some walking sticks and pretend you are in the old days.
You can tie a bandanna filled with a few trail snacks around your stick.
~Look for cool and interesting plants, bugs and trees.

5. Walk along a deserted beach (again, try the metro and state parks) really pushing your feet into the sand, stop and do 10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups, 10 squats and 10 crunches. REPEAT.
When you are done, lay on the sand and marvel at the sky.

6. Run or walk as fast as you can up your own driveway, walk down. REPEAT.

We can get our imaginations going and really think of a ton of ways to get outside and enjoy the freedom we have to exercise the body God gave us.

Walk by yourself, with a baby, child, spouse, friend, neighbor.

Make a plan and stick to it.

Think of it as a blessing and a privilege, which, of course, we know that it is!

Photo from All Posters

12 Ways To Get Happy!

1. Decide to BE happy! We have a choice, you know!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Be thankful! Each day, write down 5 things that you are thankful for.

3. Know that you are special! God created all of us and His work is perfect! He gave each of us gifts! Take time and ask Him to show you what your gifts are and then use them!

4. Do something for someone else! Smile at your loved ones or a stranger. Pick up your neighbors trash cans, send a card to a lonely person. It doesn't have to be grand.

5. Do something fun with a child! Sing! Play outside in the sunshine! You can always sing this song:

I am so glad that our Father in heaven

Tells of His love in the book He has given.

Wonderful things in the bible I see.

This is the dearest that Jesus loves me!

I am so glad that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves me! Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves even me!

We can't help but be happy singing that song, especially with a child!

6. Exercise

7. Practice yoga and deep breathing-brings oxygen to our cells, relaxing us and bringing on happy hormones.

8. Laugh every day! We might need a little help with this. Just look again to children for inspiration on this. They are always laughing! Have a laughing party: just start laughing even if you have to fake it. Soon you will be laughing because it all is so ridiculous! Laughter heals!

9. Enjoy the simple gift of nature! Just get outside and breathe in the air, shuffle your feet through the leaves, lay down on the grass and try to look for birds. Find shapes in the clouds. Walk by the water and just marvel at all of God's creation!

10. Find someone to love! Your spouse, your children, someone else's child. Call your brother or sister and talk about old times. Take your mom or dad or grandparents out to lunch. Really think about how to find that love again for all of the people in your life. Find others that need loving and share what overflows from your heart.

11. Learn to forgive and try hard to forget!

12. Know that you are loved! God wants us to be happy!

"We love him, because he first loved us!" I John 4:19

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall reeive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11