life

Resurrecting Franklin

by ladypbwiggins

I went to bed last night thinking about causes for my stress and how to relieve it. I realized all the different directions I felt pulled into; all the different ideas floating around in my brain; all the different responsibilities I now have. I felt my stress level go up just thinking about it all. Anyone who knows me well knows I hate unorganized chaos. (I believe I can have some organization within my chaotic life) Example:looking for the tops to storage containers or pots and pans. When they are cleaned, I store them with their tops on. Having to look for them creates stress.

Then an organization system we used in the ’80s popped into my thoughts: Franklin Planner. I haven’t used it in years but it seems quite appropriate for the chaos in my life. Can’t hurt. After this thought I went into a restful sleep.

For those who haven’t used the system, it is quite simple and very effective. First list all the things you have to do. Then prioritize them. All urgent, time sensitive recieve an A level; the next in importance recieve a B level and so on. Making the lists should prove very enlightening. Prioritizing is going to be interesting because right now I think everything is urgent. Recently I unpacked my husband’s office and found his planner. Now I can organize my chaos. 😄

So today I will resurrect Franklin.

Foundations

by ladypbwiggins

Do you remember nursery school? Today they call it preschool. I do. The place: McKenzie Courts Center. The administrator/teacher: Mrs. Henderson. The first lovingly, strong academia influence in my life. She and her staff taught us skills to prepare us for elementary school. It wasn’t just the a,b,c’s, colors and numbers. When I left there I could read and write legibily. They taught us how to behave in social settings outside our home. They required our best in all areas. I never thought of that place as a place for poor, black kids. I never felt the sting of “separate but equal” unequal segregation. Jim Crow overshadowed this sanctuary, but I didn’t know it. I felt safe. Mrs. Henderson and company did that for us. I remember we ate, we slept, we played, we learned. But most of all we were respected and loved. You can’t get much richer than that:My Black Soil. My roots got stronger every day. I was a little kid enjoying life. I believe Mrs Henderson is enjoying a well-deserved rest in heaven. Thank you.

Black Soil Living

by ladypbwiggins

Oftentimes a change in direction or purpose is accompanied by a name change. This season in my life is no different. I am still interested in health and wellness for mind, body and spirit.

Follow me and please share my blog.

Y’shua’s Gospel

by ladypbwiggins

We would do Well to Remember!

One day I decided to study the gospels, you know, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, with the purpose of determining the gospel message according to Y’shua (Jesus). We have so many people telling us what the gospel is in sermon, song, or behavior. Their versions have just gotten so anti-everything, except what I can get for “me”. Now I am not new to the scriptures but I wanted a fresh look. I set aside everything I knew or thought I knew and approached the investigation with fresh eyes.
The question I wanted answered was “what is the gospel according to Y’shua?”  Remember He had not died and resurrected, so that could not be His gospel.
Also, why were the religious leaders so angry with Him? You would think they’d be supportive after He read Isaiah in the synagogue. After all, they had been, supposedly, awaiting with great expectation the Messiah”s appearance on the scene.

I noticed that Y’shua challenged the practices of the religious leaders with his every act and word. The religious leaders prayed in public so everyone could observe their piety. But where was the submission to Yahweh? Y’shua taught his disciples not to pray like the Pharisees who had a semblance of holiness. He taught them to respect and yield to Yahweh’s sovereignty when they prayed. They wanted the law to be obeyed without compassion for the person. He taught obedience to the law wrapped in love. Take the women caught in adultery. The law said both the man and the woman should be stoned but only the woman was brought before him. He did not condone the woman’s behavior. Instead, He asked her where are your accusers. He did not condemn her, instead he showed her compassion and to sin no more. His response also cast a light on their hypocrisy and disobedience. He who has no sin cast the first stone. We would do well to remember.

I could go on but I will stop here with examples. It is my opinion that HIS GOSPEL, HIS GOOD NEWS was
1. Freedom from legalism, religiosity,selective judgement, man-made traditions
2. Freedom to love their God, themselves and their neighbors.

Yes, Yahweh’s law was to be obeyed. Yes, Yahweh’s messages through the prophets were to be listened to. Y’shua reminded them that the law and the prophets hung on the commandment to love God (Yahweh) and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:35-40 (KJV)
35  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38  This is the first and great commandment.
39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In everything He said and did, Yahweh’s Love was the why. His expression or example of righteous Love is the how. Love in all circumstances was His message; His GOSPEL; HIS GOOD NEWS.

We would do well to remember what is most important.

LOVE!

All In The Head

by ladypbwiggins

It’s been a little over a year since we began this raw vegan/vegan lifestyle change. I have learned how to prepare meals which is a real accomplishment; I never liked to cook. I am still learning because my husband’s cardiologist wants as much gluten-free, oil-free, clean food as possible. This is no easy task. Eating out is hard and cooking requires learning how to make good food with these substitutes. The journey has begun again.

I discovered one other thing, your mind is still the main battlefield. Occasionally my mind still test me when I am tired. Catfish and fried chicken, Chinese and authentic Mexican screams at me. The struggling vegan pops up and shouts substitute. That is my present objective; substitutes and the changing of my mind, again.

“…..but Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” Romans 12:2

This is the key to all lifestyle changes. It all begins with how you think. When you determine to make the change and settle it in your mind the rest is easy.

Why Texas?

by ladypbwiggins

Recently, we decided to move to Texas. We thought we were being led here to be near our daughter and to enjoy a lower cost of living. It is good to be near our daughter and her family but for us the cost of living has not changed. In some respects it is higher. Housing coast are lower than California but we are paying about the same. The electricity bill is greatly reduced and that’s about it.

I expected our food cost to go down but that was not realized. In fact it might be more. Houston area is an organic, non-GMO wasteland. The produce and products exist but are not in the abundance that I am accustomed to in California. The funny thing is most of the certified organic food here comes from California. But here is the good, no, the awesomely, miraculous thing. In a round about way through a conversation with some people we had just met we were led to a renowned cardiologist/electrophysiologist named Dr. Baxter D. Montgomery. His philosophy is to cure the cause of the illness not treat the symptoms. He holds to the statement made by Hippocrates,

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” 

Plant-based meals were Carl’s prescription. He did not remove him from his medications initially. He uses pharmaceuticals when needed. His plan was to eliminate them as Carl’s heart improved. After 3 weeks of eating a raw plant-based diet

  • No Soltilol (Heart rhythm medication)
  • Blood pressure in normal range
  • No diuretics
  • Physically stronger
  • Mental clarity improving
  • No breathing problems
  • Weight loss (40 lbs mostly fluid)

This is why we moved to Texas.

 

Trying New Mobile Editor

by ladypbwiggins

I have been away quite awhile but I didn’t stop thinking or writing. I have questioned many things and I have learned much. I am making serious lifestyle changes. I am excited to see out future unfold.

The Medicine Matrix

by ladypbwiggins

If our western diet is so healthy why are we so sick? Diabetes is rising, Obesity is epidemic, heart disease is #1 and we are a developed nation. In the last year I have become more aware of how our medical system works. We treat symptoms not illnesses. Think about it. You have a pain. You are given a pill to get rid of the pain. But what about, what caused the pain in the first place? I have some personal experiences that speak to this.

A few years ago, I went in for a physical. The doctor said I had high blood pressure. I didn’t agree but I took the medication anyway. Big mistake. I took a couple of doses. I felt worst after taking them than I did before. They dropped my blood pressure so low I could not function. I stopped taking them but continued to take the diuretic. I later discovered that the diuretic lowered blood pressure also. I stopped taking them. I increased my vegetable intake and reduced the sodas and fried foods. Every check up for a year showed I did not have high blood pressure. The symptom- high blood pressure, the cause- bad eating habits. Recently, I went through the same thing with a different doctor. I said no pills. I started eating fast food again. Not all the time but just enough to have an affect. I stopped. Pressure decreased. Had I not taken charge and convinced them to try regulating my pressure with a change in my eating habits, I would be stuck taking pills that are hard to get off of. Their pills would not have fixed the problem.

I had another doctor tell me recently that she was delighted that I didn’t want pills. She said it was rare to find patients who didn’t want pills but wanted to find the problem and solve it. Most people wanted what they thought was a quick fix. the pill. It is just a band-aide.

Don’t get me wrong, doctors have their place and so do pills. But a healthy body is not provided by pills. Getting to the source of the dis-ease and treating it does. Most of our dis-ease is caused by eating this western diet that is meat, fast food convenient, low vegetable and low fruit, high sugar based.

I am also convinced had we continued more diligently to eat a high plant, low meat diet my husband would not have had this last heart attack.  We have not been eating as well as before but we are returning to our whole vegetable and fruit juices, no soda and minimal fast food. I am continuing my laboratory (kitchen) visits. Real minimal. I can’t say none because sometimes life will get in the way of good plans.

I am returning to Hippocrates’ declaration.

Let medicine be your food and food your medicine.

This is my focus and intent. Modern medicine is the emergency plan.

Breaking out of the Food and Medicine Matrix as much as possible. My education continues.

Unloved

by ladypbwiggins

She stood on the street corner in her skimpy clothes, waiting. Waiting for that person to give her a moments attention. Waiting. Ah, yes. We knew who and what she was. Why did she choose this lifestyle? Why doesn’t she get a good job? Why is she selling herself? Girl, put on some clothes and get off the block.

He hangs around bars and gyms, waiting. Waiting for that person to notice him or accept his advances. Thoughts of “Am I buff enough?”, “Am I soft enough?”, “Am  I enough?” running through his head. The viewing public only sees a sleazy, annoying, lying creep. “Move on” expressed in their looks of contempt.

We make these judgments based on what we see. But, could we be wrong? I know there are those of “low, moral character.” But, sometimes, the reasons are not so clear.

Could these choices or behaviors be outward expressions of  the inner emotions of feeling unloved?

We have all done some pretty dumb things when we believed no one loved us. Some of us end up in situations because seeking that love made us vulnerable to those who took advantage of our need.  I know there are many reasons people turn to prostitution, drug addiction, etc. I believe the root of them all is feeling or being unloved.

Looking through the eyes of Y’shua, my thoughts should be of giving a kind word not contempt. Sometimes, a listening ear is all that is needed. If I choose a smile rather than a frown or look of condemnation, just maybe that person would feel a moment of value, a moment of love.

Remember when you felt Unloved.