Making Connections, Sharing Daily Life, and Loving Everyone along the Way

This past week my hubby and I traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  The main reason was to have a Memorial for my Mother, to scatter her ashes, spend time with family, and sight see. 

We started our trip the day before, getting a motel because our plane took off at 6:30AM and we needed to be there early.

As it seems to be every travel day, neither of us slept well.  We got up at 1:30 and decided to get ready to go to the airport, which was only a mile away.  We got to our check in point early so we had to wait for half an hour before checking in.  After going through all that we needed to do, we made it to our gate with 15 minutes to spare, time enough to grab some coffee!  Yes!

We were late taking off, but fortunately when we landed in Chicago, our next flight boarded one gate away!  Only God could have arranged that!  Whew!

When we landed in Rapid City, I texted all the family to let them know.  I got a phone call from my uncle that said my aunt fell that morning and she was in the hospital.  So as soon as we could go see her we did and visited every day until the morning we left to come home.  I wish we could have stayed to help, but we needed to come home. 

Throughout the week, we had Mom’s Memorial.  Since I wanted her memory to all of us to be a fond one, I asked everyone what their favorite memory was of Mom.  We had some wonderful stories, silly moments, and laughter.  That’s how Mom would have wanted it, I think. 

Her favorite flowers were tulips and we found some really pretty ones for her memorial table on Thursday.

Friday was a sight seeing day for hubby and I.  We went to see the Needles Highway, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, and Iron Mountain Road.  It was simply spectacular!

Needles Highway.

We saw buffalo, too! 

My sister made a fantastic enchilada Mexican dinner at her house and had all the family there.  What a blessing to spend time with them all!  

Saturday, was the day we all drove to Chamberlain, SD in honor of Mom at her favorite place to stop in the middle of the state--Al's Oasis.  We had breakfast, continued sharing good memories, and toasted our water glasses to Mom.  Then we went to honor her one last time and took her ashes to the Missouri River to spread them there. 

It was time for our final goodbyes.  This is what she wanted and it was in a place where she'd likely go fishing if she were still with us.  She would have liked it.

On Mother's day we went to the Badlands.  It was spectacular! 

You can see the video here. 

The pictures don't do it justice!  You have go to see it for yourself!  It's amazing! 

Monday, since it was sunny, we decided to go to Devil's Tower.  That was equally as amazing!  

The lookout from the trail. 

Looking up and trying to find all the climbers.  There were at least 10 up there! 

We tried taking our time because the next stop was beginning our "Goodbyes".  So we went through Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota where we visited Bridal Veil Falls, another favorite place of my mother's.  

Spearfish Canyon is incredible!

Every single turn there was beautiful sights and breathtaking views!

After visiting a very small part of Spearfish Canyon, we went to see my brother and his girlfriend.  We had dinner and had to scoot because there were more people to say "Goodbye" to.  

....closing the door had begun...

It was time to move forward.

My mother was a beautiful woman from the day she was born until she took her last breath.  Although I can never call her, send her a card, or take her out to lunch, she's been honored in the best way we knew how.  

Now it's time to pull my oily app up on my phone and search for grief, feelings, emotions, moving forward and see what it comes up with.  I'm not feeling any depression, but gratefulness.  Grateful to the Lord for every single moment.  I'm praying & searching for what's next.  

I started praying for all the things, all the loved ones we left behind and everything they deal with in their lives.  

So, we will continue to pray, but continue to seek the Lord for the next steps in our lives.  

Moving forward...

Love & God Bless,

Regina Graham

There is nothing more frightening (to me) than not being able to breathe.  

In the past few months I’ve been so sick with influenza and infections (plural) and when pollen comes out with a vengeance it makes things worse.  Then a neighbor decided that they had the right and ability to burn their trash in a burn barrel inside city limits.  It was so bad I couldn’t go outside, nor open my windows. 

I felt physically exhausted, as if it was all my body could do to get up, eat, walk around the block when it wasn’t smokey out, and come home to take not 1, but usually 3-4 naps before bed.  

My body has been fighting against the toxic smoke in this past month.  Through infections, simple recovery has taken time.  I don't know what all he was burning, but just walking by his house, there is all kinds of plastic tarps, jugs, and other sorted stuff that when you stop and think about it, it's all made with petro-chemicals.  Simplistically speaking, anything plastic is made from petro-chemicals.  So if you burned a couple plastic containers they would give off a black smoke due to the petro-chemicals burning.  Those chemicals travel through the air and are breathed in by you and by me.  Some folks are not bothered by this smoke immediately.  Others, like myself and a few other neighbors around me, are greatly affected with breathing issues.  Just do a basic search for "Dangers of burning petro chemicals" and see where that takes you!  Nevermind how it affects me, just think of how it affects you and your children! 

Fortunately going to Planet Fitness and riding the recumbent bike in the fresh air that is always moving and purified (ask me how I know), has been a blessing.  I know from past experiences that I needed to force air into my lungs to fill all those air sacks and clear the infection out.  In the past I’ve walked and swam, but the recumbent bike is wonderful!  I can go as slow as I need to and I don’t get winded.  After leaving my body decides to have coughing fits to expel the infection, so I know it is working!

What can I do about the neighbor who burns?  While I was at Planet Fitness on the recumbent bike this morning, my neighbor called and mentioned talking to the Fire Chief.

Long story short, the other neighbor shouldn’t be burning in the barrel any more. 

Thank the Lord!

I sit by the window breathing in the cool fresh air every morning while I read my Bible.  It helps me clear my lungs, get the word in my heart and mind at the beginning of the day, and I sneeze my brains out, too.  Yes, it’s a daily thing!  

While allergies and asthma go hand-in-hand, throw in Environmental Sensitivities (clickable link) and all those issues are heightened by 1000%!!!

When you feel like you can never catch your breath because of the chemicals, you think about what is brought in to your house differently.  A candle or a wax warmer causes physical breathing distress.  Bleach, ammonia, washer pods, fabric softener, PineSol, Lysol, 409…

ALL of it causes distress!

While I cannot control everything on the outside of my house, I can control what is brought into my house. 

We’ve told our kids we can no longer have candles in the house.  Every room in our house has a diffuser and a few bottles of oils next to them.

We’ve also told them we can no longer use bleach, ammonia, Lysol, Comet, 409, or any other toxic chemical laden cleaner in our house due to my breathing.

We’re praying about air purifiers that are built into the heating system and beginning our research of them.  I’m also coming to the realization that I may need to carry oxygen with me.  Through the worst of the time with breathing issues, I couldn't get my breathing regulated to the point I thought I was going to die.  I called my Dr and requested my asthma puffer be refilled for the first time since we've lived here in Georgia.  They promptly filled it for me and I'd used it through the worst part of the breathing difficulty.  

What about the oils?  The oils helped to support my breathing, helped to get my body's immune system to do it's job, and helped to purify the air.  When the smoke did get in to the house, diffusing Peppermint, Purification, Lemon, or Raven right away helped to clear the air.  The oils are wonderful helps in this manner!  But, I will be the first one to say that western medicine has a place.  I will try every other natural plant based remedy and herb before calling my Dr.  My Dr knows that, too and they respect that about me.  So when I do call to let them know I need to be seen that it is truly a need.  

We have choices about how we handle our maladies and self care.  It's up to us to do the research, seek out God's wisdom, and work toward finding something that works for ourselves.  It isn't going to be the same for each one of us, so it's truly up to us individually to find what works.  Something that works for me may or may not work for you.  

When your self care includes 3-4 naps a day; walks around 1 block; trying to help loved ones understand the issues you’re dealing with; trying to be proactive thinking ahead, but sometimes it is going to end up as another infection; you have to face this obstacle by allowing yourself to heal.  To force or try to push the healing process forward by overdoing things is only going to make things last longer, unfortunately.  

Isn’t it so like God to speak, reminding us of something, like when the song “I Surrender All” is played at church?!  For me it is always the Lord speaking to my soul to remember to surrender it all to Him.

Each of us has the very breath of God Himself inside of us.  YHWH is one of God's names, but breathing it brings a whole new dimension to that particular name. Inhale "Yah" and exhale "Way".  When I have breathing problems, I have to stop myself from hyperventilating and mindfully concentrate on my breathing.  I grab my Peppermint and Eucalyptus Globulus, stop myself and whisper "Yah" on the inhale and "Way" on the exhale, allowing the Lord to take away the anxious feelings, replacing them with His peace.  I force myself to do this in some instances.  As I'm speaking the breath of the name of the Lord, I'm reminding myself that He gave me breath, he understands me fully and completely and I'm filling my lungs with His breath with each inhale and exhale.  When I'm fearful and unable to breathe, YHWH helps me.

In the past 4 months, I've taken great solace in my church's choir music.  Take a listen to Glorified and others!  

I pray that you are filled with God's grace, love, and blessings.   If you know of someone who is having these same breathing issues, please reach out and let me know.  I'd love to get together and compare notes.

Love & God Bless,

Regina Graham

"I started taking drinking this power packed drink as a part of my own health routine in November 2018 as a 30 Day challenge from one of my leaders.  As I began, I didn’t know what to think about the product.  I just truly thought it was a glorified tropical fruit punch drink with essential oils thrown in for good measure!  

Boy was I wrong!  

I drank my 2 ounces a day and immediately noticed something happened!  The best way to describe it would be little boost of energy.   Although since then, I’ve come to realize it was so much more than just a little boost of energy!  As my month went on and I continued my 2oz per day routine, I was eating healthier, drinking more water, drastically lowering my soda intake, 

...then I had fast food.  

Bleck@!  Holy Cow!   I felt so bloated, the “yuck” hit me BIG time!  I did NOT like that feeling at all!  

So, I decided to choose my fast food more wisely, when needed. (Hence the reason I meet ya'all at Panera!  I love their Green Goddess salad!)  I feel so much more invigorated, just from 2oz per day!  The “yuck” doesn’t occur very often anymore and I’m feeling much more “alive” than I ever have!" 

That was written 2 years ago! 

That awesome antioxidant rich drink is still on my Loyalty Rewards order, too!  

Why?

Now, I'm finding that with continued drinking of just 2 ounces a day, it helps my knee with mobility!   If I miss just one month, the ache returns and my knee doesn't want to cooperate going up and down stairs so easily anymore.  I want to stay active and be able to move easier, so I’m going to keep using my NingXia Red! 

So, what is this stuff? 

I'd love to tell you all about it! Let’s work together to get you set up with the best possible products tailored just for you and your family!  Just click the  “Contact Me” button at the top of this page!

I’m looking forward to visiting with you! 

Love & God Bless,

Regina ( and Craig) Graham

This is Pickles, our cat, who has a way of telling me that I need to get the kitchen towels folded, put away, and the little basket returned to it's collection place!  That's what happens when I've been down.  The basic necessities are done, but the extra things are left for another day.

I'm not one to complain (much) when the Lord allows me to get sick anymore.  It's His way of telling me to rest, slow down,  and take care of myself.  That said, a 3 week extended sickness wasn't in my plans!  LOL 

God's funny that way, isn't He?!  Right through these past 3 weeks He's been telling me to "rest in Him."  

And I have...

What started as my usual early morning Bible study turned in to putting my headset in my ear, listening to the Bible and falling back to sleep with it in my ear.  Many chapters later, I've woken up and realized the Word was spoken to me in my dreams.  So, yes, I've rested in God's Word, quite literally!  

As for God's sense of humor, when any kind of sickness hits (except the throwing up kind), I lose my voice.  I'm like my Mom that way, in that I get laryngitis.  When I can't talk to people, I whisper.  I also use texting to get my point across, as well as sign language.  My kids know sign language from when they were growing up.  My husband is catching on.  

So for the past 3 weeks, I've been using a plethora of products, vitamins, teas, and comfort foods to help me feel better.  I'm going to share those with you just in case you may need them in the not so distant future. 

The first thing I did for my throat was lozenges.  When my throat was so sore and felt like it was on fire, I started using this Throat Comfort tea (all clickable links) a couple times a day, then switched before bed to warm salt water gargle.  In the morning I gargled with Thieves Mouthwash.  Additionally, I increased my water intake to help clear up any mucous that may try to make it's way to my lungs.  

For my nasal passages, I used NielMed nasal rinse.  I've used this method for 16 years since I had sinus surgery in 2007.  It has helped clean out allergens, dust, and any other icky stuff that might want to take up residence in my sinuses.  I use the packets that come with the new bottle (replacing it every year or so), then switch to Xlear packets.  

CAUTION:  Keep the Xlear packets and any fluid mixed with it away from dogs!  Xylitol is lethal to dogs!

The Air:  Keep the air around you moist with a diffuser mixed with exemplary essential oils.  Great oils to help not only clean the air around you, but help your body to heal as you breathe them in are listed below.

All the citrus oils! 

Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lime, Citrus Fresh

Oils that help with breathing:

Eucalyptus Globulus, Peppermint, Raven, RC, Breathe Again Roll-on 

Add these oils to a diffuser 2 drops at a time.  Try 2 drops and if it isn't enough, increase to 2 more. I've done 6 drops of Eucalyptus Globulus and 4 drops of Lemon in my diffuser, too.  If you need more suggestions, let me know!   

For breathing support, place a drop of oil in your hand and dip your finger in to the oil rubbing it all over your chest and collar bone.  Add a carrier oil (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil) if it's too strong or your skin starts to get pink.  The carrier oil slows down the aborption.  

Place a drop of oil in the palm of your hand, rub together in a clockwise motion and cup over your nose and mouth breathing in a "Box Breathing" fashion--4 seconds inhaling deeply, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhaling, 4 seconds hold, then repeat as many times as you feel you need to.

Thieves Essential oil & Thieves Roll-on

You can put a drop in your hand and rub this on your larynx, rub it on your feet and have a loved one roll it along your spine every day before leaving the house for work, school, or appointments.  It helps so much!  

THE oil that helps with the tummy trots:

This oil helps when you add 2-5 drops in to your hands, rub in clockwise motion, then rub all over your tummy!  Repeat as needed.  There is also Tummygize Roll-on for kids, too, so please feel free to grab those!  That way you'll be ready for the next round of "ick" that goes around! 

Of course this list would not be complete until I shared my comfort foods with ya'all!  Here's one we've used for years, but I've tweaked it this time for a bit of a spicy kick to it to help my throat.

3 Cups Elbow Macaroni cooked Al dente and rinsed

1 pound ground pork sausage cooked (I use mild breakfast sausage)

2 cans Green Beans

8 ounces Velveeta Cheese cut in to cubes

6 ounces cream cheese

Shredded cheddar cheese to taste (this truly is a preference sprinkle a little or a lot!)

1 cup 1/2 & 1/2

1 Stick Butter (not margarine)

1 small can diced green chilies

Melt butter in sauce pan, add Velveeta, & cream cheese and mix until almost creamy.  Add half and half and continue stiring until everything is creamy.  Pour over already cooked ground sausage and elbow macaroni.  Add green beans, green chilies, shredded cheddar and stir until everything is heated and incorporated.  Add extra 1/2 & 1/2 to make it thinner, if desired.  Serve in soup mugs, get under a blanket and bing watch Reba on Hulu!  Enjoy!

Breaded Chicken of Choice--precooked

Choice of Vegetable--once again we like green beans

Mashed potatoes--Scrub potatoes and cube with peel on.  Boil until fork tender and drain.  In the pot add a stick of butter, salt, pepper, & garlic powder.  Placed drained potatoes on top of butter and put lid on it for a couple minutes.

While butter and potatoes are melting in the pot make the gravy--1 Stick of Butter, 1/2 cup flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, 1 tsp sage & 1 tsp thyme; cook and mix until just barely golden brown.  Add 2 cups chicken bone broth and whisk until thickened.  Add cold water a little at a time if it's too thick until desired thickness is achieved.

Mash potatoes with  masher adding 1/2 & 1/2 until desired consistency is achieved.  Taste and reseason as needed.

Add a scoop of potatoes, a couple pieces of breaded chicken, a scoop of green beans and gravy on top with a little sprinkle of shredded cheddar.  These are absolutely delicious and rival KFC's chicken bowl!  

These two are ones that just feel so good on the sore throat.  In between having these meals, of course there are salads with lots of water filled veggies with tons of color to help with vitamins and minerals.  Then there is the occasional cheese burger craving as well.  

Overall, these 3 weeks of being down with the sickies has been a challenge in patience, but also perseverance, and working together.  

So what was I diagnosed with?  Influenza B with an underlying infection.  I'm currently taking an antibiotic too.  I'm one to stay home and keep the sickness contained and if anyone has a fever, we hunker down until 24 hours after the fever is gone.  Fresh air and sunshine as well as Vitamin C, D, and Zinc are just as integral!  Make sure you follow the guidance and suggestions of your health care professional, too!  

I hope this helps all of you who are dealing with the sickies!  

Take care and know that I'm praying for ya'all!

Love & God Bless, 

Regina Graham

I know, I know!  It seems so odd and unrealistic to be cleaning with "Plant Juice!"  

But, it's a reality!  

Join me and I will share more with you on Thursday January 26th, 2023 at 7PM.  I'll be "Live" on Zoom as well as our Facebook Education Group.  Why both?  I can interact with everyone on Zoom AND folks who cannot make it for the class can watch the replay on the education group as well as ask questions in the comments.  It's perfect when everyone is all over the world! 

If you don't have the link to the group, just send me a quick message and I'll send you an invitation!  

It's super easy!

Love & God Bless,

Regina Graham