The man was going to slaughter the pig. He shot it in the head and it had slumped to the ground. When the man went over to the front of it, the pig jumped up and rammed him, breaking the man’s tibia bone in his leg.

The pig chased the man around the room for a few minutes. The man was frantically trying to keep away from it. Finally, someone else came into the room, saw what was happening and shot the pig again. This time it died.

The man was alright except for his broken tibia.

Usually Mike treats people in car injuries, not pig injuries.

All in a day’s work.

Moral of the story:  Make sure your pig is good and dead . . .

Jen’s Tuscan Bean Soup

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 3-4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely chopped
• 2 TB olive oil
• 2 C or 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 C broth
• 4 C or 2 cans cooked kidney beans
• 2 tsp powdered thyme
• 2 C whole grain seashell pasta
• 1 C packed spinach or chard, chopped (or substitute frozen green peas in a pinch)
• 3/4 tsp sea salt (I prefer Real Garlic salt-I’m addicted to it actually)

First chop your pepper, onion and garlic. The easiest way to do this is with a small chopper. They’re cheap, save a ton of time, and make it hard for kids to pick things out.

Put the chopped onion, pepper and garlic in a pot with the olive oil. Sauté until softened (about 5 min).

Add tomatoes, beans,

and broth. I have some broth powder I use, but this time I used some liquid bouillon I bought at Costco. They both work. Homemade is the healthiest, of course.

Prepare your broth before adding to pot.

Simmer for 15-20 min while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Chop your spinach or chard. This can easily be done with a knife. I line up the leaves,

snip off the stems,

and cut into slices.

Measure your thyme,

and salt. Sea salt is much healthier than the bleached, chemicalized iodine stuff at the grocery store, and it tastes considerably better.

Add thyme, salt and pasta to the pot to simmer for 5 minutes. If you let it cook for much longer than this, the pasta will absorb more broth and get very large. This is fine, but I added more water and salt  the last time it happened.

Then add the greens last.

Serve with toast or wheat crackers and fresh ground pepper. A one-pot meal. Yum!

I told them to come over and I started gathering remedies. I pulled out my dependable Cuts & Bruises oil which eases pain, reduces inflammation and fights infection.

I grabbed some Complete Tissue ointment and Bone, Flesh & Cartilage herb blend (BF&C) for her to use in a tea for healing. Incidentally, comfrey is a valuable herb that heals things very speedily. If you have a toxic liver from taking drugs or alcohol, large quantities of this herb by itself can overload your liver, but this is rare. Generally it is very safe and cuts healing time in half.

I personally have taken comfrey in this formula for healing would take this formula in large amounts for broken bones or other serious injury to tissues or ligaments, but of course you need to be your own judge. (One of my mentors, Sandra Ellis, gave her son 100 capsules a day internally when he broke his elbow. He had no pain because he was getting the healing nutrition his body needed.)

Our friends came over and Nicole was in pain. Her toe nail ended up coming completely off. We dripped on a few drops of the Cuts & Bruises oil and I gave her the other items. I told her that cayenne has traditionally been used to stop bleeding.

Her toe bled that night, so she put cayenne powder on the wound to stop bleeding. It stung, but did the job.  (I would use cayenne if the bleeding were life threatening or the person was in shock. For most bleeding I now use straight helichrysum oil, which works excellently without stinging.)

She applied a drop of Cuts & Bruises every time before using the Complete Tissue formulas.

At night she made a tea of the Complete Tissue herbs (put a teaspoon of the herbs in a cup of boiling water for 15 min), soaked a cloth in it (wrung it out loosely), wrapped her toe with it, and covered it with a plastic bag. She did this nightly for about 5 days.

She also soaked her toe in Epsom salt twice a day with hot water and this helped prevent and draw out infection.

After the first week, she continued to apply the Complete Tissue ointment periodically.

Her toe healed quickly and over a few months a new nail grew nicely until it was back to normal.

Natural plant tools have been around throughout the history of the world! We are so fortunate to live in a time when we can purchase them easily in many convenient forms, thus facilitating and expediting the healing process.

PS-Nicole used the same routine on her son who fell off the top bunk, landed on a small wood chair, and punctured his outer ear. She soaked his ear in bath of Epsom salt, applied Cuts & Bruises along with Complete Tissue ointment until the ear healed. Thus she avoided another costly trip to the ER.

If you end up with a crushed toe and have none of the above tools for healing, you could always do what Mike’s great, great grandmother did when she crushed her toe. Fearing infection and future gangrene, she put her foot on the chopping block and cut her toe off with an ax.

I don’t recommend it.

These first ones are very simple, for ages 2-5.

Let’s Color! has very easy first activities. The one I have is More Let’s Color!

Let’s Fold has big lines to follow. On the opposite side is a picture of the outside of a lemon, so when it’s folded you see the outside and open it to see the inside. These are hard to copy because they’re double sided. So cute!

As the book progresses, the activities get more challenging, little by little. This is beginning origami at it’s finest!

Let’s Cut Paper starts with straight lines, then lines that bend. This one is More Let’s Cut Paper.

On the cover of each book is its age range.

My First Book of Tracing has easy activities and mazes for ages 2-5.

My First Book of Cutting has colorful pictures with big lines.

My First Book of Mazes starts easy . . .

but gets harder.

Once your child can use scissors and glue, My Book of Pasting builds skills from there.

My preschoolers absolutely love these activities!

My Book of Easy Crafts is appropriate for ages 4-8.  It says ages 4-6 on the cover, but my 7 yr-old will be doing the harder ones for a while.

They are double sided and so creative.

My Book of Amazing Crafts has even more exciting projects. This simple one makes it possible to change the faces and dress of the characters.

The projects get much more challenging (and popular) in the second half of the book.

I’m just starting to use this one with my 5 and 7 year old, to teach and improve their writing skills.

Not only does My Book of Writing Words offer an interesting format for writing practice, but it also uses short rhyming words and phrases throughout the book. Rhymes make everything easier to learn!

I’ve never been big on formal curriculum. I’ve always tried to find the most fun, pleasant (for me too), colorful, engaging books and activities for my kids (without dropping a wad). Nurturing their love of learning is a number one goal for me.

These books retail for $5.95-6.95 each, but run on average, new and used from 15¢ to $3 each plus shipping. So for some you’re mainly paying shipping. Amazon has good prices, but if you can find a seller on Half.com that’s offering multiple items you want, they will discount the shipping. This savings can really add up.

It takes a little time to hunt down the best deals, but you and your kids will love these!

“She’s got something up her nose! It stinks so bad!”

The dad had detected a smell coming from his daughter, but could not figure out where it was coming from. He was giving her baths 3 times a day, and it was driving him crazy.

He finally noticed when she looked up, there was something in her nose. The something was a small strand of carpet she had stuck up there. It blocked the airflow and started attracting mucus which then started to reek.

When Mike was telling me this story he commented that cases with foreign bodies were quite interesting. He’s also seen beads and beans in noses and ears.

The weirdest is when people get bugs in their ears (hold on to your stomachs folks). When the person feels the bug in their ear they usually smack it, which drives it into the ear canal.

Mike is the one that has to delicately pull the insect out with alligator forceps, without puncturing the eardrum. He said it’s really strange to see a transparent wing poking out or two beady little eyes looking back at him.

Moral of the story: Don’t smack your ear if a bug tickles it, and if your child starts to stink mysteriously, be sure to check the nose.

As we drove up the canyon, I became very glad we had gotten off our duffs and made it a priority to bond with our kids. The scenery was spectacular!

There were huge icicles off the side of the road. I was snapping shots as best I could as Mike zoomed by. And I couldn’t do it with the window open or I would have frozen everybody.

These took my breath away,

along with the towering views.

Up the canyon we arrived at our sledding destination. Here Raquel is holding a sled that I DON’T recommend using if you’re an adult. It has no cushion and jolts you every time you hit a bump. I made the mistake of going down on one with my kids, and my tailbone was sore for a week (thank goodness for muscle relief oil)!

The little kids (especially Lily) were so adorable all bundled up and snowy.

Here Nathan has a sled I used to go down the hill head-first, yes it’s true. After Nathan used some heavy persuasion to get me to try it, I loved it! The body of this sled is lifted sightly off the ground so I didn’t feel every bump, it didn’t go too fast, and the front is movable so I could steer.

This is my latest sled purchase, the Zipfy. It’s exhilirating! It’s got cushioning, goes fast when you keep your legs up, but is easy to control with feet to slow down or change direction. What a winner!

I had my video camera in my pocket, so I decided to run it as I was going down the hill, just for fun. I took one jump that put me so high in the air, I’m amazed I stayed on!

After enjoying some hot cocoa I had brought with us, we headed back down the mountain seeing some interesting sights as we did. Our little ones squealed with excitement when they saw this big snow plow passing by,

and these wild turkeys.

I made Mike pull over so I could get a clear shot of this baby.

One of my favorite things about living in Cedar City is seeing the red rock peeking out from underneath snow in the winter.

I can’t help but praise the Creator for beauty such as this and days like today.

Mike’s Maple Syrup

• 2 Cups Sucanat or Brown Sugar
• 2 Cups Light Natural Sugar or Evaporated Cane Juice Crystals (white sugar used here would still make healthier than typical store syrup)
• 2 Cups Water
• 1 TB Maple Extract
• 1/2 TB Vanilla Extract

Along with making the syrup taste really good, sucanat is mainly unrefined so it still contains much of it’s original vitamins and minerals. I can tell when I eat much white sugar. It weakens my immune system, makes my throat sore and turns me into a witch, which doesn’t happen when I eat this healthier sugar. It won’t spike your pancreas like white sugar does, which is important if you’re worried at all about diabetes (though diabetics should still eat in moderation).

Call your local health food store and see if you can order a big bag (about .89 lb). The small ones are too costly. I can substitute the sucanat for most recipes that call for brown sugar, and the dried cane juice (about $1 lb) works well for recipes calling for white sugar. You may think this expensive, but so are doctor visits. Using healthy ingredients, especially sugar, is one reason we’ve stayed out of the doctor’s office for several years now. It’s good prevention.

Put the 4 cups of sugar in a medium to large size pot. Add 2 cups of water and stir to dissolve.

Add 1 tablespoon maple extract and 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Good maple extract is hard to find. I’ve bought lots of flavoring and finally realized I had to use double or triple the amount. The small bottles are expensive and don’t last long so I buy a 32 oz bottle once a year.

Heat to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

This syrup is not as thick as the store bought kind, but we’re used to it. The flavor is out of this world! Pour it in a glass measuring cup to serve or wait until it cools and put it in a plastic container.

Our favorite with waffles, pancakes and french toast!

Whole Wheat Waffles

• 4 Cups White Wheat Flour
• 2 2/3 TB Baking Powder
• 1 TB Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Salt
• 4 Cups Milk or Water (we use rice milk)
• 2 TB Olive Oil
• 1 TB Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs

After cutting refined foods off my shopping list, I was delighted to discover white wheat flour. It’s a whole wheat flour made from hard white winter wheat berries. It’s much lighter in color and texture than red wheat, but still rises well. So I buy it in 50 lb bags and use it for all our breads.

Mike is the expert waffle maker at our home. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

• 4 Cups White Wheat Flour
• 2 2/3 TB Baking Powder
• 1 TB Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Salt

Mix well with a large wisk or spoon.

Next prepare the wet ingredients in a separate large bowl. Mike just puts them all into a large measuring cup.

• 4 Cups Milk or Water (we use rice milk)
• 2 TB Olive Oil
• 1 TB Vanilla Extract

Combine the wet and dry ingredients.

Then 2 eggs. Separate the yolks from the whites. This makes the waffles fluffier, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Skip this step if you don’t have time.

Keep the yolk in one half of the egg shell,

then carefully pour into the other half to let the whites drop out. We’ve used a couple fancy egg separating tools, but never found one that worked as well as this method. It’s an art that our kids are trying to learn.

Throw those yolks straight in with the mixed batter.

Then whip the eggs with beaters for a couple minutes.

They should have slight peaks and look like this. It’s not that hard, really!

Then fold the whites into the batter.

You’re ready to pour. Spray your waffle iron well with light olive oil or cooking spray.

Cook in your waffle iron.

I love mine somewhat crispy with organic butter and homemade syrup. Notice the difference between the color of organic and non-organic butter. The organic is deeper yellow, which is what you get from grass-fed cows.

It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals. It generally costs twice as much as the regular, so I wait until it’s on sale at the health food store. I stock up and freeze most of it.

Get out your homemade syrup and enjoy!

Bolivian children

When we moved to Cedar City, one of the doctors Mike worked with was taking annual humanitarian trips to Bolivia with his family and some co-workers. Both he and Mike had spent time in South America previously, and had developed a love of the culture, language and values. Mike immediately joined in on the trips. Part of the draw to visit South America has been to inculcate in our family the powerful aspects that the Latin American culture has to teach: specifically the value of community, family and relationships above individuals, peers, and worldly “success” as the purposes for life.

Mike and his partner started out using established non-profit organizations to coordinate their trips, but after a couple years realized that the administrative costs were inflated. They decided to start their own non-profit organization called World Village. Their physician colleagues have contributed and they have been able to do much good with no administrative costs.

Along with the great work of remodeling clinics and taking down much-needed medical supplies, these trips have given our children wonderful learning experiences and service opportunities.

One of the projects our kids have done several times is puppet shows for children at health fairs.

Raquel letting me get a picture during a show

The show is given along with a recording in Spanish about the importance of good hygiene, avoidance of alcohol and drugs and what foods are healthy.

Practicing for the puppet show

Mike loves to interact with the locals and expose our children first hand to their culture and sweetness of character.

Mike speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys playing with the kids

I got a big dose of culture one night after we went to a health fair. There was a party held where the people performed traditional dances, rich in color and music. I got to participate in one. After our last trip the community presented a ceremony of appreciation, a cultural exchange of giving and receiving, filled with food, music and dance. These are powerful highlights of our trips.

They pulled me into a dance and lent me some traditional garb

The first year the group remodeled the emergency room at an adult hospital. The family members painted a world map mural at a local school. The next year the group participated in construction of an emergency room at the children’s hospital and the family members helped pave a driveway for the ambulance.

The school room behind Nathan was open to the elements until World Village paid to have it bricked up

The next year we helped construct a clinic, painted a school and had a couple school rooms remodeled.

Me painting

This past trip the group helped supply a new clinic and participated with the clinic staff in public health measures including tuberculosis follow-up and mosquito abatement to control the spread of yellow fever. Our kids walked around the neighborhood with clinic members helping people drain any standing water in their yards.

We usually take down medical supplies which are given to local doctors. We pack our clothes in our carry-on luggage and check the supplies in crates as our regular luggage. I also took some Scholastic books in Spanish for the school.

Crates of Supplies

The doctors there are very knowledgeable,  they just lack funds and good equipment. Locals have to pay cash before they have treatment or surgeries. Mike spoke with one doc who told him that he does surgeries on people, even if they don’t have enough money to pay, until he himself runs out of money. What a sharing heart! Mike was so happy to give this doctor some desperately needed supplies.

Sorting medical supplies

We made some time to see sights,

Soaking up local art

and observe some animals . . .

Nathan with a llama

Mike holding a boa constrictor

These sloths were in the town square. In Spanish they are called “perezoso”. We called them “very-slow-slow.”

We got to see a sloth up close and personal

There were no amusement parks, but these natural rock slides were just as popular.

These slides are eroded right in the rock!

Mike has taken the kids on a couple side trips to see ruins,

Visiting ruins

and hike Machu Picchu,

Breathtaking view of the top!

among other places.

Mike & Nathan

Traveling can be expensive. Some of the families that have gone on these trips held yard sales and other fund-raisers to earn money. We’ve acquired a air-miles card, and Mike writes off many travel costs as humanitarian contributions.

The farther down in South America you travel, the more expensive it is to fly ($900 round trip to Bolivia). But there are many destinations in Central America that are more affordable (Mike flew to Guatemala for under $500).

A great resource I’ve found is a book and website called Have Kids-Will Travel. They offer many good ideas and even coordinate trips which include humanitarian service.

Expanding children’s minds by exposing them to other cultures is so valuable. There is much that can be learned and seen on the internet for free. Just make it a priority and seek out the things that interest you.

Tie the lessons in as you go and you will find many rewarding experiences.

My throat is my barometer for the well-being of my body. When my throat starts to hurt, I know I need to cut back on heavy foods (especially after the holidays) and give my body a break.

Here are a few things I do to help my body get balanced again and fight any infections that may be starting.

1. Stop eating meat, dairy, sugar and flour products.
2. Drink lots of filtered water.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Drink raw fruit or vegetable juice for breakfast and/or lunch.
5. Eat a light soup or salad for dinner.

Here are my favorite sore throat remedies. Generally, the more your throat hurts, the greater chance it is growing infection. And the longer you have this condition, the more aggressive you have to be to resolve it.

1. Garlic: 3 cloves are equivalent to an adult dose of penicillin. Capsules can help systemically, but garlic going down the throat will kill infection by contact. These are the easiest ways to take it:

• Mixed with butter on toast. Press 1 garlic clove into a dish and mix well with 1 TB of butter (or olive oil).  Spread on bread and eat or toast and then eat (less potent if toasted). I love eating this even when I’m not sick.
• Mix with honey. Press 1 clove and mix with 1 tsp to 1 TB of raw honey. Eat straight or on bread or toast.
• Press a clove into a bowl or hot or warm soup or broth.
• Blend up 1 or 2 cloves in raw, fresh carrot juice.
• Choose any of the above and repeat every 2-3 hours.

2. Vickie Sorensen’s Anti-Plague or Dr. Christopher’s Garlic-Immune Formula. Take a half dropper or 1/2 teaspoon every hour. I gave the Anti-Plague to myself and kids over Thanksgiving when we were around sick relatives and eating a bunch of white sugar. It got rid of some runny noses fast and immediately eased the pain in my throat. (They both contain garlic).

3.  Essential oil respiratory or immune (On Guard) blend rubbed on throat externally or a few drops taken internally. I love Vickie’s Respicare Oil. I rub about 5 drops on my neck straight, and it immediately eases pain. I also use Doterra’s Breathe and On Guard blends on my neck. They are powerful and must be diluted with a few drops of carrier oil (fractionated coconut or olive oil). If the throat condition is bad, I drink 2 drops of On Guard in my herbal tea and rub it on the bottom of my feet.

My sister Emili swears by the new Doterra On Guard Throat Lozenges. I’m sure they’re effective, if you’re willing to pay a little more for a remedy. She says the reason she loves them is that by sucking on them you get those essential oils (clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary & myrrh) right in the back of your throat where you need them, for 10-20 minutes. She usually coughs up a good amount of phlegm when she uses them, so they work well as an expectorant also.

4.  Other Substitutes for Antibiotics

• Take 6 drops of On Guard in an empty capsule 3 times a day.
• Take 5 drops of Oregano oil and 5 drops olive oil in an empty capsule 3 times a day.
• Vickie’s Infection formula, 2 capsules, 3 times a day.

I’ve found it’s better to do remedies more often, perhaps in smaller quantities, than to do larger quantities only a couple times a day.

You don’t have to be out of control of your health. Manage your own well-being by eating a cleaner diet, living a healthier lifestyle, and educating yourself so you can doctor yourself and your family with the many wonderful remedies that are available to us.