Simple Things

It's a cold, rainy day in February. I'm thinking about the little things and the simple things that can make life better.

Here are a few things I thought of that make life better for me.

*Clean air.
For years I've used the Foust air purifiers (www.Foustco.com). Then a friend told me about Honeywell air purifiers, and I've been using one of those that I really like. It works differently than the Foust ones (those are great for filtering chemicals). The Honeywell one seems to be better at filtering dust, pet dander, etc. They are both good air purifiers, just different.  You can find Honeywell air purifiers online at Walmart, Amazon or other places. Here's a link to the one I use now:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honeywell-True-HEPA-Air-Purifier-50250-S/5130782


*Healthy food.
When I eat healthy food, I feel better - it's that simple. Most stores now have good options for finding healthy food, but it can still be a struggle to shop, read labels, and keep healthy food on hand. If you're trying to eat healthier this year and avoid junk food, this blog post might have some helpful tips.
http://www.supereigirl.com/2012/04/food-wars-snack-attacks.html


*Laughter.
So many times laughter is just the "medicine" I need. If you haven't laughed yet today, maybe this video will help with that. =)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=833UExnrZLo

These are three simple things in life that can make a big difference. =)

If there's a simple thing you appreciate that might be helpful for others too, please add to this list by sharing it with us in the comments. Thanks!

Some Prayer Requests

I realized it's been a while since I've shared prayer requests about some of my EI friends. Would you take a few minutes today to pray for one or more of these precious people? Thank you so much!

S, N, K - These two brothers and their mom are still enduring chronic fatigue, severe chemical sensitivity, etc. They are amazing examples of living by God's grace and persevering in suffering. It's been a long road for them (over 20 years). Please pray for continued strength and faith for each of them, and for answers and tools that will bring progress in healing.

E, D, A, Z - This amazing family has been dealing with multiple and extreme health challenges for over two years. God has brought much miraculous healing, praise Him! However, there's still a long way to go. Right now the priority is for better sleep for the youngest child, so that everyone can sleep better. Please pray God will bring healing for Z in the area of sleep, and that everyone will soon have improved sleep.

J - He has been struggling with mold illness for the last few years. Praise God that he was approved for disability! However, he's currently homeless because there are no houses he can tolerate. He's been sleeping in a relative's car, but with the freezing temperatures, it's hard to stay warm. Unless you've lived through something like this, it's hard to imagine. So I'll just say that life is very difficult for him. Please pray his disability payment will come through quickly so he can buy a vehicle, and that he can find a car that is healthy for him. Also, please pray God will keep J close to His heart through this fiery trial.

A - My dear missionary friend has been dealing with health challenges after many years in other countries. Fatigue, allergies, poor sleep, etc. are some of what she's working to overcome. She's praying for restored good health soon so she can continue in the ministry God has given her. Please pray for clear direction and wisdom about treatment options, supplements, diet, etc. Also please pray for encouragement and joy in the midst of this difficult season.

E - She has been dealing with chemical sensitivity for over ten years. Though she's improved a lot and is able to do many things now, she needs to find new housing soon. This is a huge challenge for anyone with EI. Please pray God will lead her and will provide a safe and healthy place for her to live. Also for daily encouragement and continued healing for her.

Thank you so much for your prayers! These are just a few of the people I know who are facing difficult health challenges. There are many others. It's hard to see people in pain, but I can also see God at work in their lives through the suffering. As Psalm 91 says, God is our refuge and He is with us in trouble.

I hope you are experiencing God's comfort and strength in your life today. And if you have a prayer request, feel free to post it in the comments, so we can be praying for you as well.

God bless you!

 

Oops...And Happy Stretching!

I am so sorry about not doing a post last week! I had a crazy week with so much going on, and I completely forgot. I think that's the first time that's happened in years.... Please forgive my lapse.

So I thought I'd do a quick post today, and then we'll be back on schedule next week. =)

Today I wanted to share about a great resource for stretching. A few months ago a friend told me about this program called Essentrics. As she described it, I got very excited! I said, "That sounds like just what I've been looking for!"

For those of us who want to do some kind of exercise but also want to be careful not to push our bodies, this program is excellent! It is a special kind of stretching - continual movement stretching, not static stretching. It stretches and strengthens at the same time. It's gentle, yet still gives you a workout.

This kind of stretching can help improve range of motion, joint health, and mobility. For me, it also has helped strengthen my core and help with posture.

There are different videos according to levels of fitness, different muscle groups, health goals (pain relief, posture, etc.), and more. The workouts I've done so far have been the 15 minute programs - one with stretches for posture, one for neck/shoulders, etc. My body has responded well and actually wants to do these workouts!

The website has several mini-videos you can watch. There's more information there, and you can look at the different options of workouts.

http://essentrics.com/

I'm so thankful my friend told me about this great tool! I hope it'll be a good resource for you. =)

Happy stretching!