Amazing Presentation

The show was great. We all had a great time and loved the feeling of the Spirit of Love and the Savior that permeated the show. Michael McClean outdid himself and had added so much to the story for clarification. It has been about ten years since I had seen it.



I like the way the story flowed and how the music was so amazing. The sound effects and background was incredible. I like how at the end of the show the sweetness of the occasion left of all of us with a calm and joy of the Christ-mas spirit.

We all had a great time and enjoyed a fun evening together. A special thanks to Kay, too.

Forgotten Carols~

Michael McLean's touching Christmas tale has become a timeless classic. It tells the story of a nurse whose empty life is changed by her patient, John, who expands her understanding of Christmas. The Forgotten Carols are original songs from the perspective of characters such as the innkeeper who turned the young couple away or the shepherd who slept through the angel's announcement. Their personal accounts, until now, have been overlooked or ignored. Together, John and Constance discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas.

Going to see this with my family this evening....watch for more comments.

Grateful for my Scriptures

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

If you have not read your scriptures today, you just did.

I am thankful to be re-reading the Book of Mormon. The light and truth I get from it each day brings thoughts of truth and light, (knowledge) to my mind and heart.

I know my Redeemer Lives!!

Anna aka Grandma Mattie, etc,

Being Thankful for Our Trials

A man who is thankful for his illness--

He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, was always physically active and usually met others with a wry smile. Even-tempered and kind, he is a genuine, good man who loves his family and they love him. We use the expression "firm in the faith." It perfectly describes Paul.

Sunday when he stood to bear his testimony to our ward he was, inevitably, a changed man. Cancer — brain cancer — has a way of doing that to you.

Paul walked slowly to the stand at a determined pace. As he clasped the podium, he struggled to find and deliver the words he so desired to speak. He explained that the tumor was pressing on his brain and wrecking havoc. Occassionally, after garbled words, he chuckled. Then he would bear down in a gallant attempt to capture and deliver his message. He spoke slowly, simply, powerfully.

"I am thankful for my cancer." Can someone truly be grateful for a disease that is ravaging both body and brain, impairing speech and thought, and capable of taking life? Recall the Prophet Joseph Smith's affirmation, "(Afflictions) have been my common lot all the days of my life; ... and I feel like Paul, (the apostle) to glory in tribulation."

I admit, I often question the purpose, the meaning of suffering. Is there any value in adversity?

Paul, deliberately and methodically continued, "It (my cancer) has allowed me to draw closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ."

Remember the survivor of the Martin Handcart Company who, after listening to others criticize the venture, stood and described, "I ... looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there. Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was ... in the Martin Handcart Company."

In 1853, Brigham Young stated, "Joseph (Smith) could not have been perfected ... if he had lived a thousand years and led this people and preached the gospel, without persecution." Addressing the crowd, "Do you think that persecution has done us good? Yes ... let it come, for it will give me experience. ... Do you suppose I should have known what I now know, had I not been persecuted? ... (In adversity) we have seen the works of the Lord." Suffering allows us the privilege of seeing the Lord active in our lives.

Adversity also has the power to bond us to Christ through his example and through shared experience. Wilford Woodruff described "our Savior ... as an example for his followers. ... The Son of God ... (had) to descend to the earth and pass through what he did — ... persecuted, afflicted, scorned, a hiss and byword to almost all the world. ... There is something about all this that appears sorrowful; but it seemed necessary for the Savior to descend below all things that He might ascend above all things. So it has been with other men."

Paul's testimony continued, "(My suffering) has allowed me to glimpse eternity. I can never be removed from the love of my Savior." Brigham Young witnessed, "Were it not that the Lord turns us into these difficulties, and leads us into these trials, we could not know how to be glorified and crowned in His presence." Orson F. Whitney affirmed, "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God."

With short, simple phrases, agonizingly drawn, Paul delivered a profound and commanding tutorial: Adversity has the capacity to propel us into the arms of Jesus Christ, to help us come to know him as our mentor, our comforter and our exemplar. I admit, I share President John Taylor's sentiments, "I do not desire trials; I do not desire affliction." Yet, he adds, "Let it come, for we are the Saints of the most High God, and all is well, all is peace, all is right and will be, both in time and in eternity."

The Cranberry

The Cranberry Cure

The cranberry bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and bright red berries. This member of the heath family grows in mountains, forests and damp bogs from Alaska to Virginia. However, most of the commercial berries are produced in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Native Americans used cranberries for both food and medicine. The berries were enjoyed either raw or sweetened with maple sugar. In addition, they used them in sauces, breads and puddings, and used cranberries in poultices for treating wounds. Cranberry leaves were typically used for diarrhea and urinary disorders. The sailors during colonial days used cranberries to prevent scurvy.

Today, cranberry is available in a variety of products such as frozen cranberries, cranberry juice and juice cocktails, cranberry sauce and capsules containing cranberry powder. Cranberry sauce or jelly are commonly used during the year-end holiday season. The most popular form of cranberries is the sweetened cranberry cocktail that contains about 30 percent cranberry juice. Apple cranberry and other cranberry drinks only contain about 10 percent juice.

Cranberries are distinguished by their extremely sour taste, due to their low sugar and high acid content.

Cranberries are rich in citric, malic, quinic and other acids. They also contain flavonoids, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and vitamin C. Because of their tannin content, the berries possess a natural astringency.
Help for Infections
Cranberries have longed been considered valuable for maintaining the health of the urinary tract. The juice has been widely used for the prevention, treatment, and symptomatic relief of urinary tract infections.

It was commonly believed that cranberry juice was effective because it acidified the urine. The high acidity was believed to prevent bacterial growth.

However, recent research supports the notion that cranberries contain substances that prevent the adhesion of E coli and other bacteria to the lining of the urinary tract. The bacteria adhere to the urinary tract by way of many fimbriae, hairlike projections on the surface of the bacteria. This allows the bacteria to colonize in large numbers and produce an infection. Recently, researchers identified proanthocyanidins in cranberry juice which inhibit the E. coli from adhering to the lining.
Common Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a serious health problem affecting millions of Americans every year. UTIs are more prevalent among women than in men, and many women will develop several UTIs in their lifetime. The risk of a UTI increases with advancing age, and is greatest among institutionalized older women. In addition, people with diabetes are at higher risk for UTIs.

Symptoms commonly experienced with a UTI include painful urination, the need to frequently urinate, a cloudy urine, and lower back pain. If a UTI is untreated, more serious complications may develop. If they occur during a pregnancy, the infection may cause a pre-term delivery.
Clinical Studies
A group of 153 elderly women living in a nursing home experienced on average a 50 percent reduction in the bacterial load and white blood cell count in their urine after daily consuming 10 ozs. of cranberry juice cocktail for six months. The elderly women also had a greater possibility of being free of the infection than similar women not using the cranberry juice. Capsules containing cranberry concentrate can also be effective. Women who took two 400 mg capsules of cranberry powder for 3 months experienced a significant decrease in risk of UTIs.

Cranberry juice is also effective in reducing urinary odors in bedridden patients who have urinary infections and are incontinent. Nursing home personnel have observed a decrease in urine odor in the geriatric wards of a nursing home following the regular drinking of two glasses of cranberry juice by the patients. In addition, patients complained less about a burning sensation when they urinated.
What About Other Fruits?
The blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), a close relative of the cranberry, is also a good source of the proanthocyanidins which inhibit the colonization of certain bacteria. On the other hand, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, guava, and mango juices do not possess any anti-adhesion properties.
Other Protective Effects
Cranberry appears to possess other benefits for human health. Helicobacter pylori is the major cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers. This bacterium penetrates the mucus lining of the gastrointestinal system and adheres to the underlying epithelial layer. Recently, it was found that a cranberry fraction disabled some strains of H. pylori so that they could not stick to the epithelial surface. Through this mechanism cranberries could help prevent ulcers. A cranberry fraction also reduces the stickiness of oral bacteria and may be useful for delaying the development of dental plaque and gum disease.

Cranberry juice may also prevent the formation of certain types of kidney stones. A glass or two of cranberry juice every day for 1 to 2 weeks will increase the acidity of the urine, and decrease the risk of a kidney stone forming. In addition, cranberry juice does not contain high levels of oxalate, a substance which can promote the formation of kidney stones.
Protection Against Chronic Disease
Cranberries are rich in polyphenolic antioxidants which protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. The proanthocyanidins and other compounds inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol while cranberry powder has been observed to decrease the LDL cholesterol levels of animals with elevated blood cholesterol levels. The proanthocyanidins in cranberry and lowbush blueberry are known to inhibit tumor growth.
Safe Dosage
For the prevention or treatment of UTIs a daily glass of cranberry juice, one to three cups of cranberry juice cocktail, or 10-12 capsules of cranberry powder are recommended. Generally there are no side effects. However, drinking 3 or more liters of cranberry juice per day can produce diarrhea and other gastrointestinal effects. Lesser amounts may increase the frequency the bowel movements. It is important that a patient with a UTI see their physician.

Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.

Great Comfort, Great Knowledge of Sacred Things

I Nephi 22: 2525 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.

I know that we are led by our Savior, Jesus Christ in his Church and that his living prophet, Thomas S Monson is his chose servant to bless us with his words to bring us unto Jesus Christ.

I also know that the words of God's servants are true given by his prophets, seers and revelators are called of God. My testimony is strengthened and fortified through the Holy Scriptures. I love the Conference messages of the brethren and recognize how reading these things daily or listening to their talks give me the boost that my Spirit hungers and thirsts for. I know their words are true also and are Holy Writ.

I know God and his Son loves me, and that my Savior Jesus Christ is his only begotten son, and Redeemer of the world. That God and Jesus live. I am so indebted to them for ALL that I have been blessed to have. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true from the first day I heard of it existence in August of 1967 while visiting Temple Square. I never doubted even then that Joseph Smith is and was a true Prophet of God and chosen to restore God's true Church. I have a strong witness and know that I was born with my talents, and gifts of the Spirit were given to me before I came to earth and I promised to my parents, siblings and children that our relationship with my family is a continuation of when we lived with God, and Jesus Christ when the world was organized and created here on the Earth.

My blessings are many, from having found a good man in my life, and having my posterity and ancestors. I know with out a doubt that I have enjoyed so much and so many blessings because of the sacrifices my ancestors made so that I could come in these the latter-days. I have a firm witness of the Spirit and I know I was given the charge to gather my genealogy and find/remember my kindred dead to weld the link that binds me to them for their own eternal blessings that I now enjoy.

I know my Savior and am so often embraced in the arms of His and Heavenly Father's love as I serve them in his Holy temples. I am a daughter of God, and Jesus Christ. I love them with all my heart, mind and soul.

My gratitude grows each day and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost testifies to me and brings many truths to my memory to live by and be an example of the believers.

To this I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Anna Maria Rodriguez McIntire--

New Cold Remedy Find~

Newly Discovered Cold Remedy... Right in Your Pantry
Natural Cures from Bottom Line Newsletter 11-9 2010

Last December, I blogged about onions as a home remedy for insomnia, colds and more. In fact, I've had more comments posted for that blog than to any other so far. Here's a link if you want to check that out: http://margiesblog.bottomlinesecrets.com.

Shortly after I'd posted the Onion blog, my youngest daughter had a cold and so we had the opportunity to try it ourselves. I sent her to bed with sliced onions in her socks and on a plate on her night table. (I am lucky that my children love me and trust me, given the wacky things I sometimes ask them to do.) Within minutes, Lily's symptoms were noticeably better. We did it the next couple of nights as well, and her cold resolved much quicker than normal.


From Anna:
P.S.I have found that if you saute' an onion in butter at the first sign of a sore throat, you can remedy it and nip it in the bud. Also the garlic works too. It is a natural antibiotic. Garlic and onions in homemade soups work wonders as well. Grandma Mattie