So, Jessie suggested today that he might like some No Bake cookies. Since chocolate has been, almost without exception, out of the house for 21 months now, and both Tea and Kat want chocolate sweets for their upcoming birthdays... we broke down and bought some carob powder. Now, if you're a heavy chocolate eater (addicted) as I was (read: eat chocolate daily and compulsively through the day), then you will probably not like carob-anything as a chocolate replacement unless you've been uhooked from chocolate-deliciousness for a good long while.
The first time I had carob-anything was a few months ago and I couldn't tell the difference between it and what I remember of chocolate. At that time, I'd been chocolate-free for around 17-18 months. It also helps that my taste buds are not wonderfully refined in the ways my husband's are. I can barely tell the difference between similar tasting things, while he looks at me in horror because they are light-years apart in flavor, texture, umami, mouth feel... all that jazz. We're a bit like the main rat and his brother in Ratatouille.... except that we are, obviously not rats... and, of course, I'm a gal and he's a guy. You know the two I'm talking about, though, right? Anyway...
So, I made the No Bake cookies for Jess. They look exactly the same as No Bake cookies made with cocoa powder. Amazingly (since my taste buds are not refined), I think I can discern a slight flavor difference, but it's so close for me (now nearly 2 years off chocolate!) that I purposely gave myself permission to pretend it IS chocolate. And I enjoyed it a great deal!! Had the crumbs (just like I used to when my Mom made it, though back then I had to sneak, now I don't! ^_^), ate a cookie, and ate another one a while later. I still want some more because it's sweet... but I don't feel driven to eat more the way I used to when I was actively consuming chocolate. I'm still a chocohaulic, I know, but thankfully not under its control! Hopefully, I'm not feeling controlled by my desire for chocolate more because of lots of changes going on in my brain and not just because the carob cookie isn't a chocolate cookie... but I don't feel confident enough in my hope of brain changes to try even a tiny taste of chocolate. Perhaps I never will.
Why? Because I have an addictive nature. If I like something, I have a tendancy to over-induldge without even thinking about it. I just do it. (nike... never can get away from them) So, since I know this weakness in myself... why go to the edge of the cliff to see if I'm still afraid of heights, get vertigo and fall over??! I mean... I totally used-to-would've done such a thing. I just care about myself more now, I guess. That's something nice to learn as I've written it! ^_^
As a result of this successful experiment (and I'm sure Jessie will enjoy the cookies immensely... even though we didn't have any vanilla for them), I'm excited about the confections my girls have requested for their birthdays!!! :)
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thankful Thursday: August 31-September 6
I'm thankful for stories and all that they can do and that can be done with them!
I'm thankful for the confluence of ability and oportunity to sleep through the night recently. What a blessing!
I'm thankful for Visiting Teaching.
I'm thankful for my children.
I'm thankful for life.
I'm thankful for the confluence of ability and oportunity to sleep through the night recently. What a blessing!
I'm thankful for Visiting Teaching.
I'm thankful for my children.
I'm thankful for life.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Disturging News... it is now a little old, but still valuable
Are you aware of what is happening in legislation in the USA? Do you know the freedoms we have waived by not knowing they were being taken? Do you realize the impact and import of all that is happening? Do you see Revelations coming to life as I do?
This http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html article is now old news, but I'm gunna bet you don't know the depth and bredth of the problems referenced within it. DO tell me if I'm mistaken and you already know all these bits... especially the ones toward the bottom of the article that reference more than "just" one form of rights being seized.
It's just plain ole disturbing.
What do we do?
Obama seizes control over all food, farms, livestock, farm equipment, fertilizer and food production across America
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html#ixzz23wGh62bu
"We told ya so" just doesn't quite cut it anymore. As the American sheeple slept, selfishly refusing to take a stand against tyranny, the Obama administration has been plotting what can only be called a total government takeover of America.
On March 16, 2012, President Obama issued an executive order entitled, "NATIONAL DEFENSE RESOURCES PREPAREDNESS." http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness
This executive order states that the President alone has the authority to take over all resources in the nation (labor, food, industry, etc.) as long as it is done "to promote the national defense" -- a phrase so vague that it could mean practically anything.
The power to seize control and take over these resources is delegated to the following government authorities:
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to food resources, food resource facilities, livestock resources, veterinary resources, plant health resources, and the domestic distribution of farm equipment and commercial fertilizer;
(2) the Secretary of Energy with respect to all forms of energy;
(3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to health resources;
(4) the Secretary of Transportation with respect to all forms of civil transportation;
(5) the Secretary of Defense with respect to water resources; and
(6) the Secretary of Commerce with respect to all other materials, services, and facilities, including construction materials.
This takeover is designed, in part, to "stockpile supplies" for the U.S. military. Authority for this total takeover of all national resources is granted with nothing more than the writing of a single statement that claims these actions are necessary to "promote the national defense." As stated in the order:
the authority delegated by section 201 of this order may be used only to support programs that have been determined in writing as necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense:
(a) by the Secretary of Defense with respect to military production and construction, military assistance to foreign nations, military use of civil transportation, stockpiles managed by the Department of Defense, space, and directly related activities;
What all this means is that the U.S. government now claims the power to simply march onto your farm with guns drawn and demand all your crops, seeds, livestock and farm equipment.
Think I'm exaggerating? Read it yourself!
And for those living in denial who refuse to accept the reality of what's happening in America, remember the following:
• When NaturalNews reported on the existence of the NDAA, we were told our reporting was misleading because Obama opposed it and wouldn't sign it.
• When Obama betrayed America and signed the bill, we were told our reporting was misleading because "it didn't apply to Americans."
• When Obama admitted it did apply to Americans, he announced that he would choose "not to use it on Americans" but only by the grace of his restraint. Nobody who previously accused us of misleading the public had the integrity to offer us an apology and say, "Gee, you were right, it DOES apply to Americans!"
• Now Obama has seized control over all food, farms, livestock, water and transportation across America. How many brain-dead Americans will continue to live in denial and try to convince themselves this is not happening? Sticking your head in the sand does not make this go away...
As outrageous as that raid was, it's only the beginning. Now, thanks to Obama's executive order, the federal government can conduct Rawesome-style raids on all farms, all grocery stores, all food co-ops and even individual home gardens.
It's written in plain English. This is no longer debatable and it's not a conspiracy theory. It's Obama administration policy. For what other purpose would this be issued in an executive order if it was not seen as actionable by the government? This piece of paper, you see, gives them the (false) authority to do whatever they want and then have the front-line soldiers who carry it out claim "we're only following orders."
Sound familiar? Heil Hitler!
So Obama is in no way a "Commander in Chief." In fact, it is questionable whether he is even a U.S. citizen.
The phrase "national defense" can be twisted to mean almost anything. It could be invoked from something as harmless as a barge sinking in the harbor. It could even be invoked based on fabricated intelligence such as a fake website post from someone alleged to be "Bin Laden's second in command" who appears to shout some sort of threat against the United States of America. So the claim that this seizing of national resources will only be done under some sort of national defense emergency is pure bunk -- both Obama and Bush before him have already declared we are living under a national defense emergency! Thus, the conditions described in this executive order have already been triggered. It is already in effect!
Notice how nothing in this document talks about protecting the People? Serving the People? Supporting the People? It's all about protecting the government! The government needs stockpiles of weapons, food and resources -- but YOU don't! Such is the philosophy of current government which sees itself as all powerful and the People as helpless, mindless slaves of the state.
Tyrannical governments concern themselves with important concepts such as continuity of government but never the continuity of liberty for the People. At the first drop of a hat, liberty gets thrown out the window to keep government in power.
• Yesterday in Chicago, the police arrested NBC reporters outside a hospital, screaming that their First Amendment rights could be taken away from them at any time:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/cop-arrests-nbc-reporters-says-your-first...
• Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently revealed in U.S. Senate testimony that the Obama administration takes its orders from the UN and that the U.S. Congress is now null and void. (http://wethepeoplefree.com/constitution/senator-sessions-leon-panetta...) and (http://www.infowars.com/coup-detat-pentagon-obama-declare-congress-ce...)
• When MF Global head Jon Corzine stole billions of dollars from investors (many were farmers), there were absolutely no investigations, no indictments and no criminal arrests! Massive financial theft is now openly tolerated in America as long as those doing the stealing are politically connected to the Obama administration. (http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-cojones-defense-of-jon-corzine.html)
Of course, it's not an Obama thing. Bush was much the same. It's not the name of the person in the Oval Office who matters, it's the fundamental lack of principles and ethics reflected across government today. Instead of protecting the rights of the People, today's corrupt governments are little more than criminal gangs who steal power and resources for themselves (and their connected buddies) while destroying the economy and stealing everything in sight from the real workers upon whose sweat-drenched backs America was built.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html#ixzz23wGVobq5
This http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html article is now old news, but I'm gunna bet you don't know the depth and bredth of the problems referenced within it. DO tell me if I'm mistaken and you already know all these bits... especially the ones toward the bottom of the article that reference more than "just" one form of rights being seized.
It's just plain ole disturbing.
What do we do?
Text of the original article found at the above link:
Obama seizes control over all food, farms, livestock, farm equipment, fertilizer and food production across America
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html#ixzz23wGh62bu
"We told ya so" just doesn't quite cut it anymore. As the American sheeple slept, selfishly refusing to take a stand against tyranny, the Obama administration has been plotting what can only be called a total government takeover of America.
On March 16, 2012, President Obama issued an executive order entitled, "NATIONAL DEFENSE RESOURCES PREPAREDNESS." http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness
This executive order states that the President alone has the authority to take over all resources in the nation (labor, food, industry, etc.) as long as it is done "to promote the national defense" -- a phrase so vague that it could mean practically anything.
The power to seize control and take over these resources is delegated to the following government authorities:
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to food resources, food resource facilities, livestock resources, veterinary resources, plant health resources, and the domestic distribution of farm equipment and commercial fertilizer;
(2) the Secretary of Energy with respect to all forms of energy;
(3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to health resources;
(4) the Secretary of Transportation with respect to all forms of civil transportation;
(5) the Secretary of Defense with respect to water resources; and
(6) the Secretary of Commerce with respect to all other materials, services, and facilities, including construction materials.
This takeover is designed, in part, to "stockpile supplies" for the U.S. military. Authority for this total takeover of all national resources is granted with nothing more than the writing of a single statement that claims these actions are necessary to "promote the national defense." As stated in the order:
the authority delegated by section 201 of this order may be used only to support programs that have been determined in writing as necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense:
(a) by the Secretary of Defense with respect to military production and construction, military assistance to foreign nations, military use of civil transportation, stockpiles managed by the Department of Defense, space, and directly related activities;
What all this means is that the U.S. government now claims the power to simply march onto your farm with guns drawn and demand all your crops, seeds, livestock and farm equipment.
Think I'm exaggerating? Read it yourself!
And for those living in denial who refuse to accept the reality of what's happening in America, remember the following:
• When NaturalNews reported on the existence of the NDAA, we were told our reporting was misleading because Obama opposed it and wouldn't sign it.
• When Obama betrayed America and signed the bill, we were told our reporting was misleading because "it didn't apply to Americans."
• When Obama admitted it did apply to Americans, he announced that he would choose "not to use it on Americans" but only by the grace of his restraint. Nobody who previously accused us of misleading the public had the integrity to offer us an apology and say, "Gee, you were right, it DOES apply to Americans!"
• Now Obama has seized control over all food, farms, livestock, water and transportation across America. How many brain-dead Americans will continue to live in denial and try to convince themselves this is not happening? Sticking your head in the sand does not make this go away...
What California did to Rawesome Foods, the Obama administration can do to everyone
Remember the armed raids on Rawesome Foods? With guns drawn, California authorities assaulted the food distribution center, arrested the farmers, then proceeded to destroy $50,000 worth of food including milk, eggs, cheese and watermelons. (http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_Rawesome_Foods_armed_raids.html)As outrageous as that raid was, it's only the beginning. Now, thanks to Obama's executive order, the federal government can conduct Rawesome-style raids on all farms, all grocery stores, all food co-ops and even individual home gardens.
It's written in plain English. This is no longer debatable and it's not a conspiracy theory. It's Obama administration policy. For what other purpose would this be issued in an executive order if it was not seen as actionable by the government? This piece of paper, you see, gives them the (false) authority to do whatever they want and then have the front-line soldiers who carry it out claim "we're only following orders."
Sound familiar? Heil Hitler!
Understanding the fraud
This executive order starts out by stating that the U.S. President is the "Commander in Chief" of the U.S. military. This is false. He is not the commander in chief unless and until Congress declares an Act of War. No acts of war have been declared in recent memory, and certainly not under Obama who doesn't even seek congressional approval for war.So Obama is in no way a "Commander in Chief." In fact, it is questionable whether he is even a U.S. citizen.
The phrase "national defense" can be twisted to mean almost anything. It could be invoked from something as harmless as a barge sinking in the harbor. It could even be invoked based on fabricated intelligence such as a fake website post from someone alleged to be "Bin Laden's second in command" who appears to shout some sort of threat against the United States of America. So the claim that this seizing of national resources will only be done under some sort of national defense emergency is pure bunk -- both Obama and Bush before him have already declared we are living under a national defense emergency! Thus, the conditions described in this executive order have already been triggered. It is already in effect!
Notice how nothing in this document talks about protecting the People? Serving the People? Supporting the People? It's all about protecting the government! The government needs stockpiles of weapons, food and resources -- but YOU don't! Such is the philosophy of current government which sees itself as all powerful and the People as helpless, mindless slaves of the state.
Tyrannical governments concern themselves with important concepts such as continuity of government but never the continuity of liberty for the People. At the first drop of a hat, liberty gets thrown out the window to keep government in power.
Other signs of the takeover
• Last year, I interviewed Farmer Brad in central Texas, who openly stated, on camera, that FEMA has already started calling farms across Texas and demanding an inventory list of all their crops and seeds. Watch this interview yourself at: http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=72620642EB2DE54931674ED4857C08EC• Yesterday in Chicago, the police arrested NBC reporters outside a hospital, screaming that their First Amendment rights could be taken away from them at any time:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/cop-arrests-nbc-reporters-says-your-first...
• Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently revealed in U.S. Senate testimony that the Obama administration takes its orders from the UN and that the U.S. Congress is now null and void. (http://wethepeoplefree.com/constitution/senator-sessions-leon-panetta...) and (http://www.infowars.com/coup-detat-pentagon-obama-declare-congress-ce...)
• When MF Global head Jon Corzine stole billions of dollars from investors (many were farmers), there were absolutely no investigations, no indictments and no criminal arrests! Massive financial theft is now openly tolerated in America as long as those doing the stealing are politically connected to the Obama administration. (http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-cojones-defense-of-jon-corzine.html)
Of course, it's not an Obama thing. Bush was much the same. It's not the name of the person in the Oval Office who matters, it's the fundamental lack of principles and ethics reflected across government today. Instead of protecting the rights of the People, today's corrupt governments are little more than criminal gangs who steal power and resources for themselves (and their connected buddies) while destroying the economy and stealing everything in sight from the real workers upon whose sweat-drenched backs America was built.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035301_Obama_executive_orders_food_supply.html#ixzz23wGVobq5
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Courageous
Talk about an uplifting movie! And even Jessie said it was great! I strongly recommend anyone to spend the two hours with their sweetheart and watch it. Yes, it is primarily for men. However, as a woman, I feel more encouraged and motivated to be a better Mama. :) Prepared to be moved.
GMOs Change Organ Function
Seriously, it shouldn't be surprising.
"You are what you eat," isn't just a trite, cute phrase. It is absolyute truth at a cellular, molecular level. The food we consume carries information within in that communicates with the whole of our bodies. This is just common sense. But if we don't consider it, we may be surprised by this sort of information.
"You are what you eat," isn't just a trite, cute phrase. It is absolyute truth at a cellular, molecular level. The food we consume carries information within in that communicates with the whole of our bodies. This is just common sense. But if we don't consider it, we may be surprised by this sort of information.
Inform yourself!
Monday, September 3, 2012
The Constitution
http://www.nccs.net/products/product/pocket-constitution.php Just send a self addressed envelope with $0.66 postage to:
NCCS
37777 W. Juniper Rd.
Malta, ID 83342
AND
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-pocket-constitution/ plus shipping and handling
Order 10 or more for less than $1 each http://www.nccs.net/products/product/pocket-constitution.php
NCCS
37777 W. Juniper Rd.
Malta, ID 83342
AND
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-pocket-constitution/ plus shipping and handling
Make your own http://constitutionbooklet.com/ Constitution booklet.
Order 10 or more for less than $1 each http://www.nccs.net/products/product/pocket-constitution.php
Study guide http://free.ed.gov/?page_id=6&query=Constitution&type=index.
I just think we need to be reading and re-reading this document. Don't you think so??
Meditation Monday #8
Meditation contues daily. I have had a couple days I thought I might end up not completing my meditation. Mostly those almost misses are due to poor planning and or exhaustion. But the Lord has carried me through.
One day my meditation session was way less than normal because of sheer exhaustion. But I figure it sorta evens out because another session this week was significantly longer than my daily meditations have been.
Today marks my 91st day of meditating and my 63rd day since I added the conquering anger meditation! Amazing for me, I know! ^_^ I mean, that's more than 2 months of one and 3 months overall! Praise the Lord for making me strong enough to keep on keeping on!!! He is amazing!
One day my meditation session was way less than normal because of sheer exhaustion. But I figure it sorta evens out because another session this week was significantly longer than my daily meditations have been.
Today marks my 91st day of meditating and my 63rd day since I added the conquering anger meditation! Amazing for me, I know! ^_^ I mean, that's more than 2 months of one and 3 months overall! Praise the Lord for making me strong enough to keep on keeping on!!! He is amazing!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
So Very Pertinent Still Today
This article/talk http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/1975/10/for-the-time-will-come-when-they-will-not-endure-sound-doctrine?lang=eng is so very pertinent today, yet it is a little bit older than me. That's 36 years, yall!
I hope you'll take some time to read it and let me know what you think!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Sunoven Contest
Click HERE http://www.sunoven.com/contest to enter a contest to win a sun over... EVERY WEEK THIS MONTH!!! ^_^
Freedom From War
It sounds lovely, doesn't it? The idea of no longer being at war anymore. It's a goal worth aiming for, for sure. But at what cost? Do we realize the cost? Do we realize the danger of outright attacks on our Constitution? Do we see the real and present need of the Second Amendment still today?
Yes, we desire peace. But as our forefathers knew, there is no freedom, nor any peace, in tyranny. If we do not retain the right to self-protection, there is no freedom. If we are in fear of the govenment of our land, there is no peace nor freedom. I've recently learned of an old document... memorandum... http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/arms/freedom_war.html that reveals the plans some in the leadership of this country have been making to disarm and completely disregard the Second Amendment. You will find it alarming if you read with discernment. If you read it superficially, unable to see what the words really mean as they come together, you may be glad. But if you are, I have a river to sell you....
I, for one, desire no more war anymore. Certainly. I'm enough of a realist to know in a soul piercing way that this simply will not come to pass in a long-standing way if the way it happens is by force. If a nation is forced to give up rights to give up its laws that are meant to protect it and its people, then there is no real peace. There is only tyranny. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
There is yet another truth that is not spoken loudly or clearly by any of the news conveyors I've found. The news/information sources that are super unpopular because the majority refuses to see what is going on in plain sight. Big hint: they are not liberal.... What is the truth to which I refer? I'm refering to the fact, yes FACT, that humanity will never know true peace until our Savior has returned and rules in truth and in reality here on the earth. That's just the way it is.
We will have a semblance of peace... as we live day to day shaking in the very deepest parts of ourselves for fear... for some period of time before and during the seven year tribultion. This is true. However, if you live in fear of the powers-that-be and don't know what of Law you can trust, is that freedom OR peace? I think not. A police state is not freedom and there is no true peace within. It is neither the peace nor freedom of the kinds that were intended to be ours by our forefathers as they wrote and ratified the Constitution and, subsequently, those of its Amendments that were included quickly.
How have we gone so far wrong? I believe prosperity and blissful ignorance are the means to the end at which we find ourselves now. Our public schools don't teach the Constitution in any impression-making and abiding way. There is no real understanding of how our forefathers hoped and wanted things to be for and in this country. Just the fact that prayer is defamed and denigrated as not having any place in meetings of our Nations' leaders (House, Senate, Committees)... umm... really? And taken out of schools... give me a break. God was included in and consulted throughout the laying of the foundation of this country. Yet, somehow, we think to push Him out now because we know better than those who organized the laws and protections we have so slovenly allowed to be eaten away by modern legislation. I think not. We are fools.
All these thoughts... and I have only shared a small portion because I would go on far too long otherwise.
The following is the text of the memorandum to which I have linked above. Figured you might not want to click over, so you can read it right here if you so desire. :) Yes, I have highlighted parts I hope you'll take especial notice of... and if you'd like to know what I think about them, in particular, just ask and I'll formulate another post of explanation. ^_^
The United States Program
THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM
Yes, we desire peace. But as our forefathers knew, there is no freedom, nor any peace, in tyranny. If we do not retain the right to self-protection, there is no freedom. If we are in fear of the govenment of our land, there is no peace nor freedom. I've recently learned of an old document... memorandum... http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/arms/freedom_war.html that reveals the plans some in the leadership of this country have been making to disarm and completely disregard the Second Amendment. You will find it alarming if you read with discernment. If you read it superficially, unable to see what the words really mean as they come together, you may be glad. But if you are, I have a river to sell you....
I, for one, desire no more war anymore. Certainly. I'm enough of a realist to know in a soul piercing way that this simply will not come to pass in a long-standing way if the way it happens is by force. If a nation is forced to give up rights to give up its laws that are meant to protect it and its people, then there is no real peace. There is only tyranny. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
There is yet another truth that is not spoken loudly or clearly by any of the news conveyors I've found. The news/information sources that are super unpopular because the majority refuses to see what is going on in plain sight. Big hint: they are not liberal.... What is the truth to which I refer? I'm refering to the fact, yes FACT, that humanity will never know true peace until our Savior has returned and rules in truth and in reality here on the earth. That's just the way it is.
We will have a semblance of peace... as we live day to day shaking in the very deepest parts of ourselves for fear... for some period of time before and during the seven year tribultion. This is true. However, if you live in fear of the powers-that-be and don't know what of Law you can trust, is that freedom OR peace? I think not. A police state is not freedom and there is no true peace within. It is neither the peace nor freedom of the kinds that were intended to be ours by our forefathers as they wrote and ratified the Constitution and, subsequently, those of its Amendments that were included quickly.
How have we gone so far wrong? I believe prosperity and blissful ignorance are the means to the end at which we find ourselves now. Our public schools don't teach the Constitution in any impression-making and abiding way. There is no real understanding of how our forefathers hoped and wanted things to be for and in this country. Just the fact that prayer is defamed and denigrated as not having any place in meetings of our Nations' leaders (House, Senate, Committees)... umm... really? And taken out of schools... give me a break. God was included in and consulted throughout the laying of the foundation of this country. Yet, somehow, we think to push Him out now because we know better than those who organized the laws and protections we have so slovenly allowed to be eaten away by modern legislation. I think not. We are fools.
All these thoughts... and I have only shared a small portion because I would go on far too long otherwise.
The following is the text of the memorandum to which I have linked above. Figured you might not want to click over, so you can read it right here if you so desire. :) Yes, I have highlighted parts I hope you'll take especial notice of... and if you'd like to know what I think about them, in particular, just ask and I'll formulate another post of explanation. ^_^
Freedom From War
The United States Program
for General and Complete
Disarmament in a
Peaceful
World
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 7277
Disarmament Series 5
Released September 1961
Disarmament Series 5
Released September 1961
Office of Public Services
BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government
Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. - Price 15 cents
Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. - Price 15 cents
INTRODUCTION
The revolutionary development of modern weapons within a world divided by serious ideological differences has produced a crisis in human history. In order to overcome the danger of nuclear war now confronting mankind, the United States has introduced at the Sixteenth General Assembly of the United Nations a Program for General and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World.
This new program provides for the progressive reduction of the war-making capabilities of nations and the simultaneous strengthening of international institutions to settle disputes and maintain the peace. It sets forth a series of comprehensive measures which can and should be taken in order to bring about a world in which there will be freedom from war and security for all states. It is based on three principles deemed essential to the achievement of practical progress in the disarmament field:First, there must be immediate disarmament action:
A strenuous and uninterrupted effort must be made toward the goal of general and complete disarmament; at the same time, it is important that specific measures be put into effect as soon as possible.Second, all disarmament obligations must be subject to effective international controls:
The control organization must have the manpower, facilities, and effectiveness to assure that limitations or reductions take place as agreed. It must also be able to certify to all states that retained forces and armaments do not exceed those permitted at any stage of the disarmament process.Third, adequate peace-keeping machinery must be established:
There is an inseparable relationship between the scaling down of national armaments on the one hand and the building up of international peace-keeping machinery and institutions on the other. Nations are unlikely to shed their means of self-protection in the absence of alternative ways to safeguard their legitimate interests. This can only be achieved through the progressive strengthening of international institutions under the United Nations and by creating a United Nations Peace Force to enforce the peace as the disarmament process proceeds.
--------
There follows a summary of the principal provisions of the United States Program for General and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World. The full text of the program is contained in an appendix to this pamphlet.
FREEDOM FROM WAR
THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM
FOR GENERAL AND COMPLETE
DISARMAMENT
IN A PEACEFUL WORLD
SUMMARY
DISARMAMENT GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
The over-all goal of the United States is a free, secure, and peaceful world of independent states adhering to common standards of justice and international conduct and subjecting the use of force to the rule of law; a world which has achieved general and complete disarmament under effective international control; and a world in which adjustment to change takes place in accordance with the principles of the United Nations.
In order to make possible the achievement of that goal, the program sets forth the following specific objectives toward which nations should direct their efforts:
- The disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition of their reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those required to preserve internal order and for contributions to a United Nations Peace Force;
- The elimination from national arsenals of all armaments, including all weapons of mass destruction and the means for their delivery, other than those required for a United Nations Peace Force and for maintaining internal order;
- The institution of effective means for the enforcement of international agreements, for the settlement of disputes, and for the maintenance of peace in accordance with the principles of the United Nations;
- The establishment and effective operation of an International Disarmament Organization within the framework of the United Nations to insure compliance at all times with all disarmament obligations.
TASK OF NEGOTIATING STATES
The negotiating states are called upon to develop the program into a detailed plan for general and complete disarmament and to continue their efforts without interruption until the whole program has been achieved. To this end, they are to seek the widest possible area of agreement at the earliest possible date. At the same time, and without prejudice to progress on the disarmament program, they are to seek agreement on those immediate measures that would contribute to the common security of nations and that could facilitate and form part of the total program.
GOVERNING PRINCIPLES
The program sets forth a series of general principles to guide the negotiating states in their work. These make clear that:
- As states relinquish their arms, the United Nations must be progressively strengthened in order to improve its capacity to assure international security and the peaceful settlement of disputes;
- Disarmament must proceed as rapidly as possible, until it is completed, in stages containing balanced, phased, and safeguarded measures;
- Each measure and stage should be carried out in an agreed period of time, with transition from one stage to the next to take place as soon as all measures in the preceding stage have been carried out and verified and as soon as necessary arrangements for verification of the next stage have been made;
- Inspection and verification must establish both that nations carry out scheduled limitations or reductions and that they do not retain armed forces and armaments in excess of those permitted at any stage of the disarmament process; and
- Disarmament must take place in a manner that will not affect adversely the security of any state.
DISARMAMENT STAGES
The program provides for progressive disarmament steps to take place in three stages and for the simultaneous strengthening of international institutions.
FIRST STAGE
The first stage contains measures which would significantly reduce the capabilities of nations to wage aggressive war. Implementation of this stage would mean that:
- The nuclear threat would be reduced:
All states would have adhered to a treaty effectively prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons.
The production of fissionable materials for use in weapons would be stopped and quantities of such materials from past production would be converted to non-weapons uses.
States owning nuclear weapons would not relinquish control of such weapons to any nation not owning them and would not transmit to any such nation information or material necessary for their manufacture.
States not owning nuclear weapons would not manufacture them or attempt to obtain control of such weapons belonging to other states.
A Commission of Experts would be established to report on the feasibility and means for the verified reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons stockpiles.
- Strategic delivery vehicles would be reduced:
Strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles of specified categories and weapons designed to counter such vehicles would be reduced to agreed levels by equitable and balanced steps; their production would be discontinued or limited; their testing would be limited or halted.
- Arms and armed forces would be reduced:
The armed forces of the United States and the Soviet Union would be limited to 2.1 million men each (with appropriate levels not exceeding that amount for other militarily significant states); levels of armaments would be correspondingly reduced and their production would be limited.
An Experts Commission would be established to examine and report on the feasibility and means of accomplishing verifiable reduction and eventual elimination of all chemical, biological and radiological weapons.
- Peaceful use of outer space would be promoted:
The placing in orbit or stationing in outer space of weapons capable of producing mass destruction would be prohibited.
States would give advance notification of space vehicle and missile launchings.
- U.N. peace-keeping powers would be strengthened:
Measures would be taken to develop and strengthen United Nations arrangements for arbitration, for the development of international law, and for the establishment in Stage II of a permanent U.N. Peace Force.
- An International Disarmament Organization would be established for
effective verification of the disarmament program:
Its functions would be expanded progressively as disarmament proceeds.
It would certify to all states that agreed reductions have taken place and that retained forces and armaments do not exceed permitted levels.
It would determine the transition from one stage to the next.
- States would be committed to other measures to reduce international
tension and to protect against the chance of war by accident, miscalculation, or
surprise attack:
States would be committed to refrain from the threat or use of any type of armed force contrary to the principles of the U.N. Charter and to refrain from indirect aggression and subversion against any country.
A U.N. peace observation group would be available to investigate any situation which might constitute a threat to or breach of the peace.
States would be committed to give advance notice of major military movements which might cause alarm; observation posts would be established to report on concentrations and movements of military forces.
SECOND STAGE
The second stage contains a series of measures which would bring within sight a world in which there would be freedom from war. Implementation of all measures in the second stage would mean:
- Further substantial reductions in the armed forces, armaments, and military establishments of states, including strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles and countering weapons;
- Further development of methods for the peaceful settlement of disputes under the United Nations;
- Establishment of a permanent international peace force within the United Nations;
- Depending on the findings of an Experts Commission, a halt in the production of chemical, bacteriological and radiological weapons and a reduction of existing stocks or their conversion to peaceful uses;
- On the basis of the findings of an Experts Commission, a reduction of stocks of nuclear weapons;
- The dismantling or the conversion to peaceful uses of certain military bases and facilities wherever located; and
- The strengthening and enlargement of the International Disarmament Organization to enable it to verify the steps taken in Stage II and to determine the transition to Stage III.
THIRD STAGE
During the third stage of the program, the states of the world, building on the experience and confidence gained in successfully implementing the measures of the first two stages, would take final steps toward the goal of a world in which:
- States would retain only those forces, non-nuclear armaments, and establishments required for the purpose of maintaining internal order; they would also support and provide agreed manpower for a U.N. Peace Force.
- The U.N. Peace Force, equipped with agreed types and quantities of armaments, would be fully functioning.
- The manufacture of armaments would be prohibited except for those of agreed types and quantities to be used by the U.N. Peace Force and those required to maintain internal order. All other armaments would be destroyed or converted to peaceful purposes.
- The peace-keeping capabilities of the United Nations would be sufficiently strong and the obligations of all states under such arrangements sufficiently far-reaching as to assure peace and the just settlement of differences in a disarmed world.
Appendix
THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM
[end of document]
DECLARATION ON DISARMAMENT
THE UNITED STATES PROGRAM
FOR GENERAL AND COMPLETE
DISARMAMENT
IN A PEACEFUL WORLD
The Nations of the world,
Conscious of the crisis in human history produced by the revolutionary development of modern weapons within a world divided by serious ideological differences;
Determined to save present and succeeding generations from the scourge of war and the dangers and burdens of the arms race and to create conditions in which all peoples can strive freely and peacefully to fulfill their basic aspirations;
Declare their goal to be: A free, secure, and peaceful world of independent states adhering to common standards of justice and international conduct and subjecting the use of force to the rule of law; a world where adjustment to change takes place in accordance with the principles of the United Nations; a world where there shall be a permanent state of general and complete disarmament under effective international control and where the resources of nations shall be devoted to man's material, cultural, and spiritual advance;
Set forth as the objectives of a program of general and complete disarmament in a peaceful world:
(a) The disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition of their reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those required to preserve internal order and for contributions to a United Nations Peace Force;
(b) The elimination from national arsenals of all armaments, including all weapons of mass destruction and the means for their delivery, other than those required for a United Nations Peace Force and for maintaining internal order;
(c) The establishment and effective operation of an International Disarmament Organization within the framework of the United Nations to ensure compliance at all times with all disarmament obligations;
(d) The institution of effective means for the enforcement of international agreements, for the settlement of disputes, and for the maintenance of peace in accordance with the principles of the United Nations.
Call on the negotiating states:
(a) To develop the outline program set forth below into an agreed plan for general and complete disarmament and to continue their efforts without interruption until the whole program has been achieved;
(b) To this end to seek to attain the widest possible area of agreement at the earliest possible date;
(c) Also to seek --- without prejudice to progress on the disarmament program --- agreement on those immediate measures that would contribute to the common security of nations and that could facilitate and form a part of that program.
Affirm that disarmament negotiations should be guided by the following principles:
(a) Disarmament shall take place as rapidly as possible until it is completed in stages containing balanced, phased and safeguarded measures, with each measure and stage to be carried out in an agreed period of time.
(b) Compliance with all disarmament obligations shall be effectively verified from their entry into force. Verification arrangements shall be instituted progressively and in such a manner as to verify not only that agreed limitations or reductions take place but also that retained armed forces and armaments do not exceed agreed levels at any stage.
(c) Disarmament shall take place in a manner that will not affect adversely the security of any state, whether or not a party to an international agreement or treaty.
(d) As states relinquish their arms, the United Nations shall be progressively strengthened in order to improve its capacity to assure international security and the peaceful settlement of differences as well as to facilitate the development of international cooperation in common tasks for the benefit of mankind.
(e) Transition from one stage of disarmament to the next shall take place as soon as all the measures in the preceding stage have been carried out and effective verification is continuing and as soon as the arrangements that have been agreed to be necessary for the next stage have been instituted.
Agree upon the following outline program for achieving general and complete disarmament:
STAGE I
A. To Establish an International Disarmament Organization:
(a) An International Disarmament Organization (IDO) shall be established within the framework of the United Nations upon entry into force of the agreement. Its functions shall be expanded progressively as required for the effective verification of the disarmament program.
(b) The IDO shall have: (1) a General Conference of all the parties; (2) a Commission consisting of representatives of all the major powers as permanent members and certain other states on a rotating basis; and (3) an Administrator who will administer the Organization subject to the direction of the Commission and who will have the authority, staff, and finances adequate to assure effective impartial implementation of the functions of the Organization.
(c) The IDO shall: (1) ensure compliance with the obligations undertaken by verifying the execution of measures agreed upon; (2) assist the states in developing the details of agreed further verification and disarmament measures; (3) provide for the establishment of such bodies as may be necessary for working out the details of further measures provided for in the program and for such other expert study groups as may be required to give continuous study to the problems of disarmament; (4) receive reports on the progress of disarmament and verification arrangements and determine the transition from one stage to the next.
B. To Reduce Armed Forces and Armaments:
(a) Force levels shall be limited to 2.1 million each for the U.S. and U.S.S.R. and to appropriate levels not exceeding 2.1 million each for all other militarily significant states. Reductions to the agreed levels will proceed by equitable, proportionate, and verified steps.
(b) Levels of armaments of prescribed types shall be reduced by equitable and balanced steps. The reductions shall be accomplished by transfers of armaments to depots supervised by the IDO. When, at specified periods during the Stage I reduction process, the states party to the agreement have agreed that the armaments and armed forces are at prescribed levels, the armaments in depots shall be destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.
(c) The production of agreed types of armaments shall be limited.
(d) A Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Experts Commission shall be established within the IDO for the purpose of examining and reporting on the feasibility and means for accomplishing the verifiable reduction and eventual elimination of CBR weapons stockpiles and the halting of their production.
C. To Contain and Reduce the Nuclear Threat:
(a) States that have not acceded to a treaty effectively prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons shall do so.
(b) The production of fissionable materials for use in weapons shall be stopped.
(c) Upon the cessation of production of fissionable materials for use in weapons, agreed initial quantities of fissionable materials from past production shall be transferred to non-weapons purposes.
(d) Any fissionable materials transferred between countries for peaceful uses of nuclear energy shall be subject to appropriate safeguards to be developed in agreement with the IAEA.
(e) States owning nuclear weapons shall not relinquish control of such weapons to any nation not owning them and shall not transmit to any such nation information or material necessary for their manufacture. States not owning nuclear weapons shall not manufacture such weapons, attempt to obtain control of such weapons belonging to other states, or seek or receive information or materials necessary for their manufacture.
(f) A Nuclear Experts Commission consisting of representatives of the nuclear states shall be established within the IDO for the purpose of examining and reporting on the feasibility and means for accomplishing the verified reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons stockpiles.
D. To Reduce Strategic Nuclear Weapons Delivery Vehicles:
(a) Strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles in specified categories and agreed types of weapons designed to counter such vehicles shall be reduced to agreed levels by equitable and balanced steps. The reduction shall be accomplished in each step by transfers to depots supervised by the IDO of vehicles that are in excess of levels agreed upon for each step. At specified periods during the Stage I reduction process, the vehicles that have been placed under supervision of the IDO shall be destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.
(b) Production of agreed categories of strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter such vehicles shall be discontinued or limited.
(c) Testing of agreed categories of strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter such vehicles shall be limited or halted.
E. To Promote the Peaceful Use of Outer Space:
(a) The placing into orbit or stationing in outer space of weapons capable c,f producing mass destruction shall be prohibited.
(b) States shall give advance notification to participating states and to the IDO of launchings of space vehicles and missiles, together with the track of the vehicle.
F. To Reduce the Risks of War by Accident, Miscalculation, and Surprise Attack:
(a) States shall give advance notification to the participating states and to the IDO of major military movements and maneuvers, on a scale as may be agreed, which might give rise to misinterpretation or cause alarm and induce countermeasures. The notification shall include the geographic areas to be used and the nature, scale and time span of the event.
(b) There shall be established observation posts at such locations as major ports, railway centers, motor highways, and air bases to report on concentrations and movements of military forces.
(c) There shall also be established such additional inspection arrangements to reduce the danger of surprise attack as may be agreed.
(d) An international commission shall be established immediately within the IDO to examine and make recommendations on the possibility of further measures to reduce the risks of nuclear war by accident, miscalculation, or failure of communication.
G. To Keep the Peace:
(a) States shall reaffirm their obligations under the U.N. Charter to refrain from the threat or use of any type of armed force--including nuclear, conventional, or CBR--contrary to the principles of the U.N. Charter.
(b) States shall agree to refrain from indirect aggression and subversion against any country.
(c) States shall use all appropriate processes for the peaceful settlement of disputes and shall seek within the United Nations further arrangements for the peaceful settlement of international disputes and for the codification and progressive development of international law.
(d) States shall develop arrangements in Stage I for the establishment in Stage II of a U.N. Peace Force.
(e) A U.N. peace observation group shall be staffed with a standing cadre of observers who could be dispatched to investigate any situation which might constitute a threat to or breach of the peace.
STAGE II
A. International Disarmament Organization:
The powers and responsibilities of the IDO shall be progressively enlarged in order to give it the capabilities to verify the measures undertaken in Stage II.
B. To Further Reduce Armed Forces and Armaments:
(a) Levels of forces for the U.S., U.S.S.R., and other militarily significant states shall be further reduced by substantial amounts to agreed levels in equitable and balanced steps.
(b) Levels of armaments of prescribed types shall be further reduced by equitable and balanced steps. The reduction shall be accomplished by transfers of armaments to depots supervised by the IDO. When, at specified periods during the Stage II reduction process, the parties have agreed that the armaments and armed forces are at prescribed levels, the armaments in depots shall be destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.
(c) There shall be further agreed restrictions on the production of armaments.
(d) Agreed military bases and facilities wherever they are located shall be dismantled or converted to peaceful uses.
(e) Depending upon the findings of the Experts Commission on CBR weapons, the production of CBR weapons shall be halted, existing stocks progressively reduced, and the resulting excess quantities destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.
C. To Further Reduce the Nuclear Threat:
Stocks of nuclear weapons shall be progressively reduced to the minimum levels which can be agreed upon as a result of the findings of the Nuclear Experts Commission; the resulting excess of fissionable material shall be transferred to peaceful purposes.
D. To Further Reduce Strategic Nuclear Weapons Delivery Vehicles:
Further reductions in the stocks of strategic nuclear weapons delivery vehicles and agreed types of weapons designed to counter such vehicles shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure outlined in Stage I.
E. To Keep the Peace:
During Stage II, states shall develop further the peace-keeping processes of the United Nations, to the end that the United Nations can effectively in Stage III deter or suppress any threat or use of force in violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations:
(a) States shall agree upon strengthening the structure, authority, and operation of the United Nations so as to assure that the United Nations will be able effectively to protect states against threats to or breaches of the peace.
(b) The U.N. Peace Force shall be established and progressively strengthened.
(c) States shall also agree upon further improvements and developments in rules of international conduct and in processes for peaceful settlement of disputes and differences.
STAGE III
By the time Stage II has been completed, the confidence produced through a verified disarmament program, the acceptance of rules of peaceful international behavior, and the development of strengthened international peace-keeping processes within the framework of the U.N. should have reached a point where the states of the world can move forward to Stage III. In Stage III progressive controlled disarmament and continuously developing principles and procedures of international law would proceed to a point where no state would have the military power to challenge the progressively strengthened U.N. Peace Force and all international disputes would be settled according to the agreed principles of international conduct.U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1961 O 609147
The progressive steps to be taken during the final phase of the disarmament program would be directed toward the attainment of a world in which:
(a) States would retain only those forces, non-nuclear armaments, and establishments required for the purpose of maintaining internal order; they would also support and provide agreed manpower for a U.N Peace Force.
(b) The U.N. Peace Force, equipped with agreed types and quantities of armaments, would be fully functioning.
(c) The manufacture of armaments would be prohibited except for those of agreed types and quantities to be used by the U.N. Peace Force and those required to maintain internal order. All other armaments would be destroyed or converted to peaceful purposes.
(d) The peace-keeping capabilities of the United Nations would be sufficiently strong and the obligations of all states under such arrangements sufficiently far-reaching as to assure peace and the just settlement of differences in a disarmed world.
[end of document]
Friday, August 31, 2012
Five Things for Friday
1
I mentioned it yesterday, but because I just still feel so thrilled by it, I just have to mention it again. :) Kat taught FHE this past Monday. My three girls have been taking turns planning and executing FHE for the last few months! Yes, they really are AWESOME!
2
Three people have given us either money to buy dresses or dresses for a Relief Society Service Project organized by a local (but not my) Relief Society. It feels super nice to be able to contribute so many more dresses than we could give ourselves! We've collected more than 50!!! The dresses will be given to a local Women's Shelter.... So totally wonderful, right!
3
This week we have accomplished much. Jessie has been actively engaged in checking things off the to-do list. YEAY! Among the things accomplished, I've been able to gather most of the bits we need to make more rabbit hutches. I've been working on the design for a while, so I'm pretty excited to see it come to fruition.
4
We had double stuffed twice baked potatoes the other night. The girls have declared it a new favorite meal. I'm sure it hasn't over taken spot #1 (pizza), but it's among the new top 10, so they say. :) They were super hungry when we sat down to eat and when they saw only 1/2 a potato with stuffing, they exclaimed that they would surely need more. There was much dissappointment when they learned there was only a single half left and that it was being reserved for Daddy. However, no surprise to me, they were absolutely stuffed when they finished the half they thought couldn't possibly be enough!
5
Currently 2 or 3 of my does are pregnant. Jessie butchered 3 bucks and we ate one for lunch on Wednesday. I'm hoping he'll make a deal with a buddy who wants to try rabbit... and Jess will get some rolly-shoes, which he has wanted for some time. One of my great hopes is to get into bartering and trading for more of what we need/want. This would be a terrific first step into this sort of 'realm' of market exchange! ^_^ So, whether the exchange: rabbit for shoes, transpires or not, our little herd of rabbits is and will be providing us with some more benefits very soon. Exciting!
Bonus
As a result of Jessie borrowing the tool necessary, I was able to cut apart some wood with a sawzall in preparation for building the rabbit hutch... SO excited! I did wear eye protection. And I only almost cut myself once. I altered my position and method thereafter, and finished the part of the job I wanted to complete with merely some muscle fatigue. On another note: I was able to start another batch of my "secret" jam made from a plant in my garden. I expect to finish cooking and canning it up tomorrow. I'm going to hold-out a little longer on tellin' you WHAT the jam is made with because I'm worried that a friend who has some may not have tried it yet. I don't want her to know what it is and have that knowledge negatively influence her experience of it! :) I am hoping to be able to reserve a couple jars for Christmas presents to family... as lame as it may be, there may be a few families that have to share due to proximity, availabilty and feasability "/
Happy Birthday Memaw
Ti auguro un felice compleanno.
Tanti auguri. Birthday greetings.
Happy Birthday: Buon Compleanno!
Cento di questi giorni! Many happy returns!
May all your wishes come true. Happy birthday! Possano tutti i tuoi desideri avverarsi in questo giorno. Auguri!
Ti auguro un felice compleanno! Wishing you every happiness this special day brings. Have a wonderful birthday!
Cento di questi giorni. Wishing you will live long enough to celebrate 100 more birthdays.
Tanti auguri. Birthday greetings.
Happy Birthday: Buon Compleanno!
Cento di questi giorni! Many happy returns!
May all your wishes come true. Happy birthday! Possano tutti i tuoi desideri avverarsi in questo giorno. Auguri!
Ti auguro un felice compleanno! Wishing you every happiness this special day brings. Have a wonderful birthday!
Cento di questi giorni. Wishing you will live long enough to celebrate 100 more birthdays.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thankful Thursday: August 24-30
I'm thankful for the temple trip last week. I'm pretty sure some bad things would've been a lot worse had I not just been.
I'm thankful for health and improvements!
I'm thankful for my sweet, smart, wonderful daughters!! We have lots of little traditions in our little family. One of them that the children really love is "child of the week." Jmy has even recently been moved into the schedule. (This is technically his week.) Each child, during their special week, gets to do certain things more frequently... they are sort of the "on call" person for certain tasks or privileges. The privileges are, really, the previously most argued-about subject... like: who gets to sit next to Mama or Daddy (depending on whether Daddy is home or not) for each meal and who gets to say the blessing on the food, or morning devotional prayers, or night time devotional prayers... you get the idea, I hope. ;)
Well, pretty recently (within the last few months), my girls have decided that they love FHE so very much that they want to plan and execute it so that they know it will, for sure, happen. (I was doing all right with holding them, but then something specific happened and I wasn't able to maintain it well.) Anyway... we've had FHE every week I can remember since they took over the planning and holding of it!
A couple weeks ago it was Kat's week. Oh, my GOODNESS Tea was SO upset when she expressed a desire to teach FHE and I told her no in favor of Kat, reminding Tea that Kat was child of the week. Tea was irate, which hits our ears as very loud crying. When I told her that she could plan and teach FHE next week, during HER week, she was somewhat placated and eventually calmed down. I proceeded to forget the incident. So, Monday (8-20) rolled around and I was working to "round up the wagons," as it were, to get the kiddos to bed. Our nite-nite routine involves picking up the house, evening devotionals, and (hopefully) reading time. Currently we're half-way through 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. They LOVE it!! I knew Tea had been planning something throughout the day and realized it was FHE when she was terribly heartbroken when Ria erased part of a chalkboard picture she'd worked on. (The chalkboard is often of central focus in the girls' lessons because they want to have a pictoral reminder of the story part of their lesson or they want a picture of the topic of the lesson. It's always really sweet and almost incomprehensible, but still wonderful!)
So, as we're sitting for devotionals, Tea sets up the chalkboard and lets me know who should say opening prayer. I ask her for the opening song, we sing it, and her assigned pray-er prays. Then we proceed with the devotional (currently Old Testament reading, reading a General Conference talk from October 1975, each child chooses a song, then closing EXCEPT on FHE Mondays we have FHE before closing prayer). Tea's lesson topic was Faith. I honestly cannot remember much of anything about it except that she started out telling a completely made-up story with Jesus Christ as a central character. I eventually did stop her and remind her that our FHE lesson was to learn about different Gospel Principles. As it turned out, I helped her discuss Charity. It turned out to be a very sweet little lesson.
I was thinking I would have to come up with something for today (since it's Jmy's week), but Kat took the heat off me when she begged to be able to teach FHE tonight. She planned it all out and executed it quite well. The lesson was on Faith. She had us since Oh Come All Ye Faithful, then she talked about Faith for a minute, and she ended with reading a Bible story from a children's Bible storybook the kids were given in a parking lot while out with Jess a while back. Kat, especially, LOVES this book. She's read it through completely at least 5 times. She read the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. She proclaimed it her very most favorite Bible story (but she says this about whichever one she's been reading recently... like we're reading is Esther currently, and she told me yesterday that THAT book was her very favorite in the Bible!). ^_^ I love it!
Anyway, Kat's lesson was wonderful. Ria does an equally awesome job, too. I look forward to the day Jmy pleads to be allowed to teach during his special week! I'm just so thankful for these kiddos who love the Lord and His Word SO much!!!
I'm thankful for health and improvements!
I'm thankful for my sweet, smart, wonderful daughters!! We have lots of little traditions in our little family. One of them that the children really love is "child of the week." Jmy has even recently been moved into the schedule. (This is technically his week.) Each child, during their special week, gets to do certain things more frequently... they are sort of the "on call" person for certain tasks or privileges. The privileges are, really, the previously most argued-about subject... like: who gets to sit next to Mama or Daddy (depending on whether Daddy is home or not) for each meal and who gets to say the blessing on the food, or morning devotional prayers, or night time devotional prayers... you get the idea, I hope. ;)
Well, pretty recently (within the last few months), my girls have decided that they love FHE so very much that they want to plan and execute it so that they know it will, for sure, happen. (I was doing all right with holding them, but then something specific happened and I wasn't able to maintain it well.) Anyway... we've had FHE every week I can remember since they took over the planning and holding of it!
A couple weeks ago it was Kat's week. Oh, my GOODNESS Tea was SO upset when she expressed a desire to teach FHE and I told her no in favor of Kat, reminding Tea that Kat was child of the week. Tea was irate, which hits our ears as very loud crying. When I told her that she could plan and teach FHE next week, during HER week, she was somewhat placated and eventually calmed down. I proceeded to forget the incident. So, Monday (8-20) rolled around and I was working to "round up the wagons," as it were, to get the kiddos to bed. Our nite-nite routine involves picking up the house, evening devotionals, and (hopefully) reading time. Currently we're half-way through 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. They LOVE it!! I knew Tea had been planning something throughout the day and realized it was FHE when she was terribly heartbroken when Ria erased part of a chalkboard picture she'd worked on. (The chalkboard is often of central focus in the girls' lessons because they want to have a pictoral reminder of the story part of their lesson or they want a picture of the topic of the lesson. It's always really sweet and almost incomprehensible, but still wonderful!)
So, as we're sitting for devotionals, Tea sets up the chalkboard and lets me know who should say opening prayer. I ask her for the opening song, we sing it, and her assigned pray-er prays. Then we proceed with the devotional (currently Old Testament reading, reading a General Conference talk from October 1975, each child chooses a song, then closing EXCEPT on FHE Mondays we have FHE before closing prayer). Tea's lesson topic was Faith. I honestly cannot remember much of anything about it except that she started out telling a completely made-up story with Jesus Christ as a central character. I eventually did stop her and remind her that our FHE lesson was to learn about different Gospel Principles. As it turned out, I helped her discuss Charity. It turned out to be a very sweet little lesson.
I was thinking I would have to come up with something for today (since it's Jmy's week), but Kat took the heat off me when she begged to be able to teach FHE tonight. She planned it all out and executed it quite well. The lesson was on Faith. She had us since Oh Come All Ye Faithful, then she talked about Faith for a minute, and she ended with reading a Bible story from a children's Bible storybook the kids were given in a parking lot while out with Jess a while back. Kat, especially, LOVES this book. She's read it through completely at least 5 times. She read the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. She proclaimed it her very most favorite Bible story (but she says this about whichever one she's been reading recently... like we're reading is Esther currently, and she told me yesterday that THAT book was her very favorite in the Bible!). ^_^ I love it!
Anyway, Kat's lesson was wonderful. Ria does an equally awesome job, too. I look forward to the day Jmy pleads to be allowed to teach during his special week! I'm just so thankful for these kiddos who love the Lord and His Word SO much!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Forgetting to Eat
So, I'm still a fluffy female. I've not lost any significant amount of weight or anything. But I have experienced something with increasing frequency that I truly never thought I'd live to truthfully say happened to me.
I have actually forgotten to eat. Yes. It's true. And I didn't feel hungry for the forgetting, either. In the past, I might've just not eaten, but the hunger pangs were talking to me the whole time. Now, I do still have hunger pangs sometimes, but much less frequently than I used to. I truly attribute this new experience to the brain changes I know are taking place as a result of meditation. I'm sure the extended fast I did at the beginning of August could've sped things along and made a difference, too, but I think the biggest impact is due to the addiction meditation and meditating, in general.
Since the extended fast I've been trying to be more careful about mixing food and water. Adding water right before or after eating can be super bad for those like me who have super sensitive guts. I think the dramatic impact water can have in my digestion is because it dilutes the gastric juices that perform lots of digestive duties from the mouth to the stomach and onward. This seems to have made a good difference (in combination with the fast itself, I'm sure).
I look forward to learning more changes in me as I progress in duration of my meditation journey. I expect, given this change, that lots of things will improve over time - much faster than I was able to bring it to pass without this amazing tool in my life. Praise God for His merciful leading!
I have actually forgotten to eat. Yes. It's true. And I didn't feel hungry for the forgetting, either. In the past, I might've just not eaten, but the hunger pangs were talking to me the whole time. Now, I do still have hunger pangs sometimes, but much less frequently than I used to. I truly attribute this new experience to the brain changes I know are taking place as a result of meditation. I'm sure the extended fast I did at the beginning of August could've sped things along and made a difference, too, but I think the biggest impact is due to the addiction meditation and meditating, in general.
Since the extended fast I've been trying to be more careful about mixing food and water. Adding water right before or after eating can be super bad for those like me who have super sensitive guts. I think the dramatic impact water can have in my digestion is because it dilutes the gastric juices that perform lots of digestive duties from the mouth to the stomach and onward. This seems to have made a good difference (in combination with the fast itself, I'm sure).
I look forward to learning more changes in me as I progress in duration of my meditation journey. I expect, given this change, that lots of things will improve over time - much faster than I was able to bring it to pass without this amazing tool in my life. Praise God for His merciful leading!
Labels:
addiction meditation,
brain changes,
extended fast,
fast,
food,
forgetfulness,
meditation,
water
1 comment:
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Dreams, What Dost Thou Say?
I've had lots of dreams lately. Unfortunately, I've been a bit too tired to write most of them down. :( I'm a big believer in dreams (and their ability to communicate things of importance to us) since I've had a few that have come to fruition AND since my husband has communicated to me some dreams that have come to pass! Additionally, and arguably most importantly, the Bible refers to dreams as important and a blessing.
I recently had a dream in which I rode a bicycle on a winding path, which turned out to be a form of timetravel. I remember feeling very disconcerted and upset at my findings... I just cannot remember what those findings are! :( In another dream remember crying out in the anguish of my soul, "My God! Oh, My God!" But I don't remember what could pull such a prayer of pain from me because I have made a commitment not to take the Lord's name in vain.
In another dream there was a shark. I trapped the shark in one particular room and believed Jessie could deal with it. We were having some guests over for some holiday meal or another and they arrived. Jessie showed up (I'd told him about the shark) completely naked. I was so upset with him and hauled him off by his ear. (?) I dragged him to the room that held the shark (forgetting that it was there), fussed at him, and left him there. After leaving him there for a while, I remembered the shark and ran back as fast as I could. I knocked over a huge shelf thing that divided the room from the rest of the room. I kept calling for Jessie and he didn't respond me. Then I started crying and heard something... turned out to be Jessie's voice muffled. So I went in search of him, also on guard for the shark. Turns out he was under an overturned couch. He was bleeding and his right arm was completely gone. He directed me in a matter-of-fact way to cut open the shark and get his arm out of the shark. I did even though I can barely stand to deal with meat to cook it, much less cutting a just alive thing up.... And that's it.
Interesting dreams (or parts of dreams), right? I have my own interpretations, of course. If you'd like to share any impressions, I'm up for it, too. We all know, of course, that the dreamer is usually the best interpreter because the dreamer knows the rest of the story (the stuff that happens in the head, heart and life that impact and/or create the dream).
Do let me know what you'd think they mean, though. If you want. ^_^
I recently had a dream in which I rode a bicycle on a winding path, which turned out to be a form of timetravel. I remember feeling very disconcerted and upset at my findings... I just cannot remember what those findings are! :( In another dream remember crying out in the anguish of my soul, "My God! Oh, My God!" But I don't remember what could pull such a prayer of pain from me because I have made a commitment not to take the Lord's name in vain.
In another dream there was a shark. I trapped the shark in one particular room and believed Jessie could deal with it. We were having some guests over for some holiday meal or another and they arrived. Jessie showed up (I'd told him about the shark) completely naked. I was so upset with him and hauled him off by his ear. (?) I dragged him to the room that held the shark (forgetting that it was there), fussed at him, and left him there. After leaving him there for a while, I remembered the shark and ran back as fast as I could. I knocked over a huge shelf thing that divided the room from the rest of the room. I kept calling for Jessie and he didn't respond me. Then I started crying and heard something... turned out to be Jessie's voice muffled. So I went in search of him, also on guard for the shark. Turns out he was under an overturned couch. He was bleeding and his right arm was completely gone. He directed me in a matter-of-fact way to cut open the shark and get his arm out of the shark. I did even though I can barely stand to deal with meat to cook it, much less cutting a just alive thing up.... And that's it.
Interesting dreams (or parts of dreams), right? I have my own interpretations, of course. If you'd like to share any impressions, I'm up for it, too. We all know, of course, that the dreamer is usually the best interpreter because the dreamer knows the rest of the story (the stuff that happens in the head, heart and life that impact and/or create the dream).
Do let me know what you'd think they mean, though. If you want. ^_^
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
statcounter
