Thursday, April 30, 2009

Wanna See the Baby?

Everybody-well, MOST everybody-loves babies. And why not? They smell good, they do not pass judgement, they never argue and they need us.

I recall a former neighbor who had half a dozen children and hailed the arrival of every new baby as a Red Letter Event. Her paper boy came to the door to collect for the newspaper he'd been delivering and she could hardly wait to show off the newest arrival. "Would you like to come in and meet the baby?" she invited. "Naw, that's okay," he responded. The new mother's face fell all the way to the porch steps and he must have noticed because he followed it up with , "I got 7 brothers at home and one is still pretty new yet."

You may be like that paper boy. You may not be all that excited about our great news. That's fine; I'll just mention it anyway. If you don't care to hear the vital statistics you can just move along now and come back another time, when I am "over" it. grin/wink

Avery Ryan Baum bounced into this world yesterday morning at 9 AM Central Time. She was eagerly welcomed by her big brother, Jacob, and her very proud parents, Chris and Steph. She tipped the scales at a healthy 7# 5 oz and measured 19 3/4" long. Her hair is long, dark and luxuriously thick. Her fingers, perfectly formed, are long and slender, as are her beautiful feet and toes! She squeaks when she cries and she wiggles. She much prefers to be bundled up; she is perfect in every way.

Mommy is feeling well and looking happy. Daddy is unable to wipe the smile from his ecstatic face. Big brother has not expressed his feelings just yet. The grandparents are holding up beautifully and we all have oversized buttons for our shirts that say, "New Grandparent."

Looking into the face of a newborn baby makes tears in my eyes. I think about the hope and optimism these precious little creatures of God bring with them. They come into this world with nothing but their innocence and their lives will be an adventure. There is much for them to learn-and teach-and there will be great joy along the way.

As I peeked over the bassinet into the face of this brand new little girl, I felt a kinship with her. It feels marvelous to welcome this tiny being, to be around to help her live her life with truth and love! I hope her heart will soar with joy as she fulfils her destiny. She is dear. Her mommy, daddy and brother are dear. She is our very first grandDAUGHTER and we love her dearly already.

Surely YOU have a baby in your family you'd love to brag about. Grab that opportunity right here! Post a comment so we can share your joy!

The Healing Codes

Connie Baum




Saturday, April 25, 2009

Sex Sells; So Does Fear!

Mexican authorities are approaching panic mode, hastily launching vaccination programs and monitoring the death toll.

Health authorities in America eye their vaccine supply and pop up everywhere there is U.S. media, warning everyone of the dire and impending doom of the sure-to-strike pandemic of flu.

This flu has been named H1N1. Quite a dramatic moniker, don't you think?

Now, clearly, I am no authority. But I have carefully studied well being and I believe that this potential flu outbreak is being badly mishandled. It is my position that instead of mongering fear among the masses, we could TEACH people how to stay well.

For example: Sunlight produces a very powerful anti-viral vitamin in the human body. Would it not make more sense to allow people time in the sun, sans sunscreen, in order to BOOST the immune system? Surely sunlight and preventative methods trump injecting people, weakening their immune systems!

I get it. Sunshine offers no profit for vaccine producers and the entire medical community.

I remember the old commercial about "It's not NICE to fool Mother Nature" and I totally agree with that statement. I'll spare you my lecture about water and whole foods and no nuked foods and all the rest of it. But Mother Nature knows better than a collection of industries who fancy that chemicalization is the route to vibrant good health! Not only is it not nice to fool Mother Nature; Mother Nature will NOT be conquered!

People who think for themselves will readily understand that fear is just a ploy to gain control over other human beings. But, like sex, it does manage to sell headlines.

The Healing Codes

Connie Baum




Friday, April 24, 2009

Why MSG is so Dangerous

Mother Connie promised to give you time to check your kitchen and rid your household of all products containing MSG...I do hope you did not give those toxic items to your local food pantry, because the MSG renders that stuff INEDIBLE!

Here is a list of bad things associated from ingesting products containing MSG:
  • Obesity
  • Eye Damage
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Disorientation
  • Depression

Here's more bad news: Even the FDA has admitted that something they call MSG Symptom Complex can occur, especially for those who have eaten "large doses" of MSG or those with asthma.

How lovely. That's not all, either. According to the illustrious FDA, the MSG Symptom Complex can involve the following:

  • Numbness
  • Burning sensation
  • Tingling
  • Facial pressure, tightness
  • Chest pain, difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Drowsiness
  • Weakness

No one knows with any degree of certainty how many people are "sensitive" to MSG but conservative estimates judge that 40% of the population may be impacted.

You may wonder WHICH food items contain MSG so you can avoid it like the plague. Here is your list: Flavors and Flavorings, Seasonings, Natural Flavors and Flavorings, Natural Pork Flavoring, Natural Beef Flavoring, Natural Chicken Flavoring, Soy Sauce, Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Protein, Bouillon, Stock, Broth, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring, Barley Malt, Anything Enzyme, Modified Carrageenan, Maltodextrin, Pectin, Protease, Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Powdered Milk, Anything Protein Fortified, Anything Ultra-Pasteurized.

Now that you have all this information do you still want to buy Hamburger Helper?


The Healing Codes

Connie Baum

Monsodium Glutamate By Any Other Name...

Mother Connie has been carrying on for some long time about Monosodium Glutamate, also known as MSG, and its malevolent effects on the human body. MSG can be found in processed foods!

I found an expert who GETS my frustration: Dr. Mercola, who has enough a-b-c's behind his name to pack a wallop. I have no alphabet soup behind my name; I'm a mom, blogger, foodie, health nut, among other things. Both Dr. M and I are so totally and completely OPPOSED to the use of MSG.

I am so old that I recall the introduction in the middle of this century of a product called "Accent." It was marketed in attractive packaging and touted as a meat tenderizer and flavor enhancer.

MSG was actually identified by Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese man in 1908. They took the natural flavor that enhanced the taste of seaweed and created a man made version, which was called MSG. He and a business partner formed the world's largest producer of MSG and a line of pharmeceuticals! They call their company Ajinomoto.

MSG is made up of 78% glutamic acid, 21% sodium, and 1% contaminants! THAT IS NOT MEAT TENDERIZER! Nor is it a "flavor enhancer." MSG has little flavor on its own. It 'tricks' your brain into thinking the food you are eating has more protein and tastes better. SIDEBAR: UGH! How disgusting! END SIDEBAR. The feature behind that result comes from a relatively unknown 5th basic taste: umami.

Umami is the flavor of glutamate, which is a savory flavor found in many Japanese foods, bacon and in the toxic food additive MSG. It is because of umami that foods with MSG taste heartier, more robust and generally better to a lot of people than foods without it. This is the very reason why using products containing MSG to save money is false economy!

In 1959 our United States government's Food and Drug Administration deemed MSG as "Generally Recognized as Safe." Once again, our tax dollars at work.

Dr. Mercola consulted with a board-certified neurosurgeon and author, Dr. Russell Blaylock about the detrimental effects of MSG. Here is what Dr. B had to say about what can happen to the body when MSG is ingested:

“When an excess of food-borne excitotoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed protein soy protein isolate and concentrate, natural flavoring, sodium caseinate and aspartate from aspartame, are consumed, these glutamate receptors are over-stimulated, producing cardiac arrhythmias. When magnesium stores are low, as we see in athletes, the glutamate receptors are so sensitive that even low levels of these excitotoxins can result in cardiac arrhythmias and death.”

Dr. Blaylock and Dr. Mercola have much more to say about this. I am going to give you time to check your kitchen pantry before I dump the whole load on you. If you have any thing in your house containing any item on the following list, PLEASE DO NOT USE IT.

  • Autolyzed Yeast
  • Calcium Caseinate
  • Gelatin
  • Glutame
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Hydrolized Protein
  • Monopotassium Glutamate
  • Monosodium Glutamate
  • Sodium Caseinate
  • Textured Protein
  • Yeast Extract
  • Yeast Food
  • Yeast Nutrient

You may have your own ideas or bad experiences with MSG. Feel free to place a message in the Comments box, accessed below this post.

We hope you will be interested to visit any or all of our partners, as well. Their banners appear all the way to the bottom of this very long page. When you visit their sites, you will soon see that they have solutions for every one of your health issues.

Connie Baum

Monday, April 20, 2009

I SO Love My Life!

You've heard me say it a million times: "I love my life!"

I say it often and with meaning because it's true.

Here is just one reason why: I had my Saturday all mapped out on paper. I had a ToDo list as long as my arm and my day was well underway when a phone call changed everything. In a good way.

I have requested my Sunday School kids to call me to let me know whether or not they will be in church on Sundays. It helps to know this when I am preparing their weekly lessons.

It was not at all unusual for Lacey to chat me up, then. We traded small talk for a bit, then she asked what I had going on for the day. I responded with a few items from my list and then I turned the table and asked about her plans.

Her voice is sweet and I could hear the hopefulness in it. "Well, I wondered if I could come by for awhile?"

My heart leaped for joy and my thought was, "PAR-TY!" I asked, "Are you up for some paper dolls?"

Of course she was. Her dad delivered her to our door in the early afternoon. I inquired what she'd like to do. She SAID she didn't care but I knew better. I gave her the twenty-five cent tour of our house since it's looking much better since the last time she was here, when we were in the throes of a major moving event. I explained that the twenty-five cents was to help with the rent but since she was a special guest, that fee would be waived. Lacey oohed and aahed in all the right places and we headed for the garden, where she could see all the hard work The Normanator has put in.

Lacey was game for a quick trip to the grocery store, too. I told her I had something in mind for Sunday School and if she'd like to help, it would be something we could enjoy together. SIDEBAR: You can read about what we made by going here: Food Stamps Cooking Club. END SIDEBAR.

When that project was finished, there was a movie to watch, paper dolls to dress, undress, redress, admire and enjoy. Dinnertime rolled around so Lacey stayed for omelets and toast! I took note of the fact she grinned a lot and was a delightful guest. I briefly mourned the fact that we have no little girls here on a regular basis and then I recalled my own daughters' teen aged years...

Is it because I am an only child that I love having my ToDo list interrupted so delightfully? Maybe. Is it because Lacey hangs on my every word, enjoys paper dolls as much as I do, and loves to bake? Could be.

Maybe it's because I never got around to growing up and Lacey and I both love Facebook, Twitter, and Flat Stanley. Besides, Lacey is my new BFF. SIDEBAR: If I Tweet that, you may RT it. END SIDEBAR. Now I think I'll go write on Lacey's wall. I plan to remind her that I love my life...

What I'd like for you to do is to check out all the partners on this page, and most especially this one, please: High Tech Health

High Tech Health

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Do You Crave Energy?

Time was when middle aged people complained of feeling tired. Older people were just assumed to be tired; why else would the nursing home routine include naps?

TODAY it's the teen aged kids who are complaining of being tired. I have observed that group to be plagued by head colds, bad skin, and even memory loss. I am so old that I recall that issue was reserved for the elders in our midst!

What could be the difference? Certainly the environment is at issue. I'm sure most every age group has trouble getting to sleep at a decent hour; this accounts for their grogginess and lack of cheer as morning arrives. If folks eat breakfast at all, it may be someting to fill their pie holes that is sugary or has the goodness processed out of it. Worse, it may be NUKED in a microwave oven! It's highly unlikely people who feel tired and sluggish are getting the proper water. YOU KNOW HOW I AM ABOUT WATER.

Here's what really gets my goat: the ginormous amounts of "energy drinks" that are being consumed. Every age group is buying these but teens are buying them as if there'll be no tomorrow!

I have a news flash for those peeps: If it's energy you are seeking, you would benefit greatly from energy medicine . Even the NIH-National Institute for Health-recognizes energy medicine! There really and truly is scientific proof to support the whole concept of energy medicine.

Because we all suffer from the human condition, we grab for a cold energy drink when all our hearts crave is some peace, joy, and love. If we live our lives in truth and with love, our NEEDS won't be outpaced with the stress of life.

Our lives are fraught with decisions. We are able to control the many decisions we make. We have control over whether or not to imbibe in an energy drink or choose a healthy glass of water. We can decide on our own to watch videos til all hours or retire for a long night's rest and rejuvenation.

I fear that if this society does not mend its ways the nursing homes will be filled with people who need care and nobody will fit to be hired. Even if they do get a nursing home position, they'll be taking breaks, chugging down energy drinks, leaving residents to fend for themelves! This would not be good.

Let's lift our glasses high and drink to everyone's vibrant, radiant good health! Then, how about if we all plan to get to bed at a decent hour tonight?

The Healing Codes


Connie Baum

Monday, April 13, 2009

Can Stress REALLY Kill Us?

Most physical and non physical health issues have long term stress as their origin. That's according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Stanford University Medical School. Other experts concur with this.

The same Center estimate 80% of ALL health care dollars are spent on illnesses related to stress. Over 95% of all illness occurs because of stress in the body's autonomic nervous system, according to the research findings of cellular biologist, Dr. Bruce Lipton.

It gets to be a vicious cycle. It begins with incorrect beliefs, moves on to pumping adrenalin and increases blood flow away from the internal organs and immune system. Then our cells receive an alarm message to self protect...living in that stress mode of 'flight or fight' is wasting our lives away. LITERALLY.

The solution is a simple one. It is not EASY but then, what in life that is worthwhile is easy?

Of course, you know how Mother Connie is. Vibrant good health is predicated on good, clean water, organic whole foods and whole foods supplements, protection from electropollution. Adequate rest and sleep, as well as appropriate exercise figures into great health and well being, too. Mother Connie is a fan of homeopathy, aromatherapy, massage therapy, and cranio-sacral work. The ultimate way of managing your wellness regimen is to take full advantage of The Healing Codes!

Here's what another expert, a doctor, said:
" As breath is the substance of life, stress is the substance of death. It brings about death little by little. The Healing Codes brings quantum change in the stress paradigm. It changes stress in a matter of minutes in a scientifically provable and reproducible way, thus eliminating the cause of illness and disease in the body. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE!" --Dr. Ben Johnson, M.D.

Whether you are in the pink of health or if you wish to improve the way you feel, it would be foolish not to look immediately into The Healing Codes.

Connie Baum

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Electromagnetic Frequencies Aren't The ONLY Thing Freaking Me Out!

Television's toughest trainer popped up on the small screen today. As you know, Jillian Michaels is the fitness trainer who appears on NBC's hit show, "The Biggest Loser"--she is a motivator, she is a gorgeous woman AND SHE NEARLY MADE MY HEAD EXPLODE!

Bless her heart. She probably doesn't know any better or she would not have passed along the advice she did today.

Jillian and I are on the same page when it comes to health and diet. We agree 100% that chips, most packaged snack foods, and anything with fake ingredients are bad news. We both agree that fruits and veggies are the most desirable things to ingest.

HOWEVER, Jillian thinks it's quite fine to cook broccoli or other vegetables in a microwave! She actually believes that it is acceptable to nuke food! HOLEY BUCKETS!

Jillian! Jillian! Jillian! The truth of the matter is that a microwave oven will not only nuke the food it purports to cook; it will also FRY THE BRAINS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM!

Microwaves rearrange the molecular structure of the food, essentially killing it. If you heat water in the microwave, the oven throws unseen toxicity all over the room. It LITERALLY fries the brains of young children. I kid you not!

It makes no sense to me to take whole, organic fresh food and kill it. Doing so robs the food of its nutrition, its goodness, its very worth!

Electromagnetic frequencies, or EMFs, cannot be seen, felt, heard, tasted or smelled. That does not mean they are not dangerous! They are EXTREMELY dangerous.

Microwave ovens are not the only offenders. The power generator setups and cell phone towers we see everywhere give off EMFs. It is well documented that cancers soar in the area wherever these towers sit. Cell phones emit the deadly toxins, as does every appliance in your home. Anything with a cord or a battery will emit EMFs and EMFs are deadly poison.

The only solution I have ever been comfortable with are the chips we use on our phones, the toaster, the fridge, TV, and all the rest of our appliances. Having an LED alarm clock near your head is begging for trouble--in terms of headaches, sleeplessness, and other assorted ailments. We trust BioPro and only BioPro to protect us. Not only do we use the chips, we also depend on their whole foods supplements because it ramps up our nutrition at the same time it affords us protection from electropollution.

I literally cringe when I hear people talk about using microwave ovens. Many people use this line: "Oh, I only use it to heat water." Or they excuse their use of the thing by insisting: "I ONLY use it to thaw frozen meat."

PEOPLE! Trust Mother Connie when I tell you that microwaves are bad news and only bad news.

If you know Jillian Michaels, will you show her this post and tell her I love her madly? Thanks.

BioPro

Connie Baum


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Do We Need TWO Packing Lists?

Living in a group home can be challenging.

It can also be challenging when someone you love lives in a group home and that home is a couple of hours away.

Michael Birdsong lives in a Mosaic home in York, NE. He has been, ever since Christmas, jonesin' for a trip to see his family. It has FINALLY been arranged and the preparation has begun on his end, with the help of his Team.

Patty, one of my contacts who works closely with my son, notified me that the packing list we have used in the past is nowhere to be found; would I prepare a new one? I saw this as a chance to have some fun so here are the TWO lists I sent:

"Top Ten Things to keep in mind when packing Michael Birdsong for a trip to Mom’s…


10. Uno Cards

9. Sleep Shirt – one will do nicely

8. Sox -- He gets by with half as many as most of the rest of us

7. Underwares – it’s a family word. Means underwear in the real world

6. Liners and stump sox for his prosthesis

5. If the weather warrants short slacks: Cool Beans!

4. Jeans [with a belt] and shirts. Nothing torn, please.

3. whole foods supplements

2. Ostomy equipment. Send it ALL; he’s likely to need it!

And the NUMBER ONE thing to pack for Michael Birdsong’s trip to Mom’s is:

His shaver and the charger. If he does not have it, he will have to sleep on
the picnic table and the weather may not be conducive. Besides, the picnic

table is in the front yard!

***Don’t get excited; it’s a family JOKE!


NOTE: He will most assuredly want his joke books. He wouldn’t be Michael without them."
And here is the list of Do Not Send:

"The Top Ten Things NOT to Send When Packing Michael Birdsong


10. Harmonicas. He owns too many and wishes to drag them EVERYwhere, all the time

9. Little folded papers he meant to send “To a Friend” but jammed into his pockets

8. Dirty Laundry - Hey, don’t laugh; he will try it.

7. Pencils and Pens - he fancies he will never have enough; the reality is he has too many!

6. Lunch bags and food he has squirreled away like a pack rat. It may be EXPIRED.

5. Cash. He doesn’t “GET” it, even though he has convinced you he DOES.

4. Tooth paste

3. Tooth brushes. Once I found 4 of them in his suitcase. Maybe he thought he’d lose one?

2. Long Khaki pants

And the NUMBER ONE THING NOT TO PACK WHEN MICHAEL MAKES A TRIP IS:

1. A plastic water bottle that is not the cobalt blue bottle with the silver lid!"
Michael Birdsong's Team, including his services coordinator, have their work cut out for them, even without his mother fussing at them about what to pack and what NOT to send.
Michael Birdsong's mom and his whole family deeply appreciate every breath those people take on behalf of Michael and his cohorts. May God bless them all.
Connie Baum

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Prison

A trip to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution is always on my Monday schedule. This week I made my way to the facility and when I came to the stop sign at the junction of Highways 50 and 136 I saw my friend, Anita. She had driven to town for a visit to the prison and she had brought our mutual friend, Jo.

When we all drove onto the parking lot, Jo and Anita hurried into the Gatehouse with their sandwiches. They barely got inside the door when Anita was called to go to the visitors' room. She rushed away and Jo and I waited to be processed so we could attend the meeting of LibOrators 986233, a club within Toastmasters, International. They meet in the Educational Unit of TSCI every Monday of the world.

We were joined by two other Toastmasters from the streets and went to our meeting, blissfully unaware of the drama that was brewing in the Gatehouse!

As we mingled during the social time, one of the club members asked about The Normanator. "Oh, " I assured him. "He and Anita are watching 'Dancing With the Stars' and I'll take Jo home with me for dessert before they drive home."

It wasn't QUITE that way...

After the meeting, our escort brought us to the Gatehouse, where we were met by one frantic Anita. She was nearly crazed and it showed in her face. She wore no coat and begged me to look in my pocket for any keys I may have.

HUH? I had my locker key. Why would I have any other? She insisted, "I'm sure you found MY locker key; I'd expect you to bring it with you."

I was more puzzled than ever. The staff, who had by now gathered in a rather large number, shuffled papers, exchanged looks, asked a million times if we were all SURE...

I suggested they get the master key. Oh, my, no. It could not happen.

That decision did nothing assuage my puzzlement and it most certainly did not soothe Anita's nerves.

Because the weather was uncertain, Anita and Jo had prepared to spend an overnight. Anita's car has keyless entry so they could gather their belongings, but without a locker key, they could not access Anita's coat, keys OR HER SANDWICH! I reminded them of our guest bedroom and promised to feed them if they came home with me.

And that's what they did. We fed them potato soup and coleslaw. Of course we had the great, healthy water from High Tech Health we are famous for providing. The Normanator served up his special butter pecan cake with burnt sugar frosting and we all wondered WHERE WAS THAT LOCKER KEY?

About an hour after they had arrived and were discussing the sleeping arrangements and what time they'd need to leave to make their Tuesday appointment schedule the phone rang...

The officer from the Gatehouse announced that the lost key finally had been found, after all. You may have heard the sighs of relief Jo and Anita let out. You may even have heard me cry, "Aww, I wanted to make a slumber party out of it!"

It had fallen between two chairs in the visitors' room but did not hit the floor so no one knew it was lost until Anita needed to open the locker.

All's well that ends well. I still want to have a slumber party.

High Tech Health

Connie Baum

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Trippin' Out?

Mother Connie is a homebody. Traveler? Not so much.

Having said that, though, I am always game to make a road trip if it isn't too long. This past week found me in a car full of gal pals on a short road trip I will remember always.

Usually the events that go awry are the reasons we remember our travels. This trip was memorable for me because of the 'God things' we experienced and the LAUGHTER. Honestly, we laughed til the car shook and we ACHED!

Now, I have to say that I missed my good water . But I managed, dryly. grin/wink I also did not have my whole foods supplements . But I remembered to pack my jammies and my toothbrush. I had clean unders and a comb. Oh, and I carried some money to buy food along the way.

Our first dinner stop had us searching for a sit down place to get a real meal. We'd all become weary of fast food lunches and we still had some distance to go, so we supported one another with the wise choice of a full meal.

Since we did not see any likely places, we thought it might be prudent to inquire from a local person what spot might be a good one for our dinner. We spied a policeman with his canine companion outside his cruiser at a strip mall. We asked for his recommendation and he directed us to a well known local hangout called "The Steakout." We proceeded North.

When we arrived at our dinner destination, we saw TWO police cars and they were searching a pair of women's purses on the trunk of a car they had pulled over! We were stunned!

From the back seat, I hollered, "Oh boy! STAKE OUT at the STEAKOUT! I do hope this is not a trap!" Sandy cried out, "Do you think they know about the rolling stop our driver made back there?"

We parked tenuously and unfolded ourselves out of the car. We went into the restaurant's dining room and seated ourselves so we could see the activity surrounding the police and the people in question. We learned that the driver had made every effort to elude the police and eventually had been pulled over. The police were searching the car and its contents. It was not long before our policeman "friend" from the mall pulled up with his car and dog. Then another cruiser arrived. There had been three women in the car and one little girl. The child was taken away and the women were put into separate cars. All of us who were gawking out the windows marvelled that the little girl was not crying.

The restaurant owner was concerned about having an unaccountable car sitting on their parking lot overnight, so she asked the cops what plan they had. Oh, they would have it towed.

It so happened that the owner's BROTHER owns a tow truck company! She asked what company they would contact and was told that they would probably call her brother. Well, that would be fine, but the brother was out of town. That gave new direction to the officers' decision making.

SIDEBAR: Only in a small town could this have unfolded in such an easygoing, friendly manner! END SIDEBAR

The entire staff at the restaurant were affable, including the owner. They all went out of their way to make sure our meal was to our liking and that we had anything we wanted. It was clear from the outset that everybody eats at The Steakout because of the food AND personal service. Even all the diners greeted us! We all chatted with one another like long time neighbors over a clothesline.

An elderly couple came in and we soon learned all about the husband's military history, the "real" reason why that car was pulled over, in their not-so-humble opinion, and they were utterly delighted to tell us how we could avoid traffic and facilitate an earlier-than-anticipated arrival to our hotel.

SIDEBAR: Don't you just LOVE people? END SIDEBAR

Here is the scoop on the "God thing:" We drove through the breath takingly beautiful Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a spiritual experience, really, witnessing all the unique rock formations in the lovely red hues. Everyone in the car favored 'The Kissing Camels.'

The sky was bright blue as we walked around the Lookout Points. By the time we drove out of the area, the sky had become gray and ominous. We admired an adobe home as we left the park. It was immense and so ecologically perfect for the area. Even though it was man-made, it fit into the scenery like a hand in a glove. Then, quick as a flash, appeared a DEER. The deer stopped, looked us directly, and stood like a statue for the longest time...probably close to a full minute. We had stopped the car to take his picture and just as the camera snapped, a car whizzed by and spooked our deer! The deer ran away into the yard of the house we had admired so much! We could see the top of his ears over the adobe wall as he ran along the length of it and there, as big as guffy, was a TIPI!

That deer knew he was among friends!

As much as we need our food and whole foods supplements; as critical as we find water to be, it is equally important to have we friends and family and occasional "God things" to make our lives complete.

Now you know a bit more about why I love my life!

High Tech Health

Connie Baum