Advantages of ALMOND MILK

Here is something you may or may not know about me. I am lactose intolerant! I can relate to the lovely digestive fun experienced by dairy products like lattes, milkshakes, cheese. Most people do not realize this because I LOVE CHEESE and will eat anything dairy without consideration. Dairy lovers unite! The only thing I do consistently avoid is regular milk. I have, since middle school i believe, enjoyed lactose-free milk. Many people have suggested soy milk but I never really enjoyed it.... Just this year I have discovered Almond Milk! I LOVE IT! for those searching for a lactose-free alternative I highly suggest ALMOND MILK!

Reasons why ALMOND MILK ROCKS

1. Its lactose-free
2. cheaper than lactose free milk (store brand)
3. only 60-70 calories depending on the brand
4. ITS SOO CREAMY!
5. Great for cooking! muffin mixes are so fluffy now!
6. No estrogen which is found in soy milk
7. it has a slight flavor of almond to it which is similar to vanilla which is yummy!

So to my gaseous friends and dairy-phobic sufferers! Almond Milk is a great alternative!

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Presidential Debates and Isaiah

Isaiah 61:1-2, The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness the prisoners to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn...

For those who watched the 2nd presidential debate, you may have the same feelings/thoughts as I do. Both provided ambiguous answers, both at times avoided the issue completely, and both have made promises out of their control! Overall the debate provoked a wide varitey of feelings and none of which were happy, hopeful feelings. Feelings of worry, hurt, confusion, anger, disgust, and most of all frustration. Both Canidates did not provide me with the answers I wanted to hear. Not that I wanted them to agree with me, no I wanted straight forward answers no matter what they were. Both provided history and broad/vague plans that will make America look like a growing country, a country of "opportunity."

My definition of voting currently: Choosing a person for a form of office, in which you have hope that this person will do something.

I wonder how selfish this can be though? As people, when we vote, what are we looking for? More security in our future? Ways to increase the money in our pockets? ending future wars? changing policies foreign or domestic? reforming health care? Some sound like great motivation, some I wonder about selfish desires. I want the government to do this for me!I deserve this! Do we really?

Oky back to Isaiah. My friend Kendra suggested to me (as a way to help me grow in my relationship with Christ) that we meditate on a scripture for one week, every morning and every night and see how it related to our day or what God may show us. So I did after the debate I pulled out my notecard with the verse mentioned above and then God spoke to me!  Here is an excerpt of my journal from late last night, while ideas and thoughts rushed around in my head:

IDK who to vote for! I was frustrated that there is no clear choice for me, Thankfully I see my role! God, You dont want me to bogged down by politics but to understand You. That wisdom from Your Spirit will guide me. You want me to focus on showing people how You are the only one who can bring true joy in this time, You are the only one who can take the darkness of the future (gun policy, wars, economy, job loss, lies, deciet, manipulation) and turn them into hope and light by directing our attention on You and our true purpose in life--serving others to show Your love.
Politicians avoid issues, God faces them directly. Politicians are limited in power and control, God has control and power over all. God is the Sovereign Lord! Politicians change their platforms, ideas, how they talk because of the public's view; God stays the same no matter the public's perception. God doesnt even have to DEFEND who He is, even when people hold misperceptions of Him! Politicians need to earn people's vote and hope, God does not need ppl's faith  and love to be God. He has changed countries by using one person! (Elijah, Judges) God is God and we are men, and His Spirit is on  me! The same amazing power that does not need approval of others is on me! When a canidate said "Have hope in me" I felt worried, confused, uncertain as to where to place my hope. Now I know for certain: My hope and faith goes to the Holy Spirit inside of me which has a greater purpose than I will ever know and I am ready!

God, on of authority, You have chosen me to share the good news to Your creation, to free captives of political/earthly worries and show them the joy and hope that only comes from You! Let me be the official/ambassador that You want in your Cabinet!

When your battery has died...

Oh wow, its a super windy day with a change of thunderstorms and maybe even a tornado!! :) SWEETNESS (minus the cold...)!!

So as of recent...oky like for the past 5 months...maybe even longer, I've been simply losing motivation and desire to grow closer to God. If anything I have fallen back a bit. I still do my quiet times, though that was because of routine (until recently, i'll tell you later), but they do not seem as rewarding or as personal as it once was...It has been hard finding a church but should my relationship with God be based off my social life at a church? I feel my battery to grow and talk with God has died or is really low and IDK how to jump start it!

My wonderful boyfriend has been helping me and coming up with creative ways to try to move me to God. We are still going through the bible (We are in judges now!). He makes me (well he more suggests/encourages that I)  pray every night before we leave Skype. Encourages bible talk even when I dont "feel" like it. And I feel this has been a great help for me to simply not give up and wait for some AMAZING event to change me.

A relationship takes work and this is when a relationship gets hard. This is when I have to push through my lazy self and work to get to know who God is to me. I feel something has pushed or is pushing myself away from getting closer to God.

I am trying out another new church. I have been in Toledo since August and I still do not feel I have found the church for me. I have been church dating. HAhaha kind of funny sounding but true. Most of the time the dating/relationship ends after the "sit down and talk" stage. For me with anyone I was interested in having a relaitonship with, this would be sitting and encouraging them to talk. I would be listening, trying to see if I am really interested, if this guy has similar interests or believes, and if I could see another day with him. For most churches/guys the awkwardness of the first get together pushes me away without looking back. I love welcoming churches. The best way to see how welcoming a church really is, is to visit without a friend. By yourself! (thats dangerous when meeting a guy for the first time so I would not suggest that!) Since moving to Toledo I have been to churches with very welcoming people and some churches in which will ask you to change seats because their friends are going to sit there. That one hurt. Even after failure, time and time again, I still want to find a church. I have basically grown up in the church and I know the benefits of a community provided by the church. I am off to try another church!

One of those Marriage Quote

‎"God never intended marriage to make me happy. Marriage is to make me grow. And the best happy marriages in the world are the ones that make us grow. And then happiness is a byproduct and fruit of it. Unhappy people that are getting married to get happy--don't do it. It won't work." -Henry Cloud

Saw this on a friend's status and I loved it so much! I find it so true. and I can see the truth in it. If you are just getting married to be "forever happy" you are in for a surprise. Marriage requires work, effort, patience, and God-like love and grace! I am so thankful for God and His wisdom and example.  Just a quick post about a quote I really liked.

History Repeats Itself when one has Dementia

UPDATE FROM SCHOOL: I still love Occupational Therapy! I love the creativeness of it, I love the purpose and reason behind it and I love ALL different populations you can work with as an OT!


Oky so I just started my level 1 fieldwork which is basically observation hours with a little assistance here and there for three days and about 4 hours each day. My placement for my 1st fieldwork experience is at a nursing home close to town. If I haven't already mentioned in past posts, my DREAM placement is with children in pediatrics. Idk yet if I want to focus on special needs, or rehab, or what but I love children. In short, I am not super motivated to learn during my fieldwork hrs. I have, however, enjoyed seeing how ROM, and the glenoscapular rhythm play a role in occupations like dressing, reaching, bathing, ect. Well today while shadowing an OT assistant, she gave me a book to read about dementia. I made a commitment to myself to read this book by Monday. My last day was Monday and I wanted to give her a good impression. I thought this commitment was possible over the weekend since the book was only 86 pages long and she said how it was an easy read. I did not realize that I would read this book in about an hour and enjoy it as fully as I did!

The book: The Past is Now My Future  By Lanny D. Butler, MS, OTR and Kari k. Brizendine, PT

This book is about the seven stages of dementia and the abilities the still remain in each person. I highly suggest everyone read this book if only to get a small understanding of what a person going through dementia experiences. With this understanding, i feel, comes patience.

One focus that stuck with me was the need to look at the individual's past to understand their current actions.  the book give a whole list of examples and how their past related to their actions. So I will leave that as a surprise. It was amazing to see and relate how our long term memory and what we have learned in the past for long periods of time/useage remains during the majority of the stages (up to stage 7). Questions relating to their history maybe: What did they find meaning in? What was their career? How did they get ready everyday? how did they shower? How did they get dressed? How did they toilet? How did they sleep in their bed? How is their kitchen set up? is the trashcan under the sink, in the cabinet or behind a counter? Understanding habits/routines like this bring comfort and feelings of validation to people with dementia which results in so many blessings such as longer independence (less work for the caregiver). This book has challenged me to consider all of my habits through out the day with the "My Way" form included in the book. I will not share this personal information with you (DUH!) But I will give you the list of questions and choices from the form. The purpose of this form is to actually have a copy hidden somewhere. When/ if you become cognitively impaired the form provides the caregiver more of an understanding of your habits (habits such as dressing, showering, toileting are done alone and no one takes note as to how you use the bathroom...).

1. Sleep/Wake Cycle
• Time I usually arise
• Nap Times
• Time I usually go to bed
• Do I rely on a clock to wake me us?
• What time of alarm clock?
• My side of the bed is
2. Self-Care Routines (number the activities in the order you typically do them after waking up)
• Bathe
• brush my teeth
• comb my hair
• apply make-up
• dress
• eat breakfast
• make/drink coffee
• feed pets/animals
• take medications
• watch TV
• read the paper
• Shave
• journal, 
• bible time
• prayer
• use the toilet
• (other)
3. Bathing (check those that apply)
• Shower____Sponge Bath_____ Tub bath_____
• Morning___Afternoon____Evening_____
• Daily____Every other day____ once/week____Less than once a week____
• Wash rag___ Sponge___ Other_________
• I never use the same rag/sponge on face and groin/feet
• I never wash my face with the same water I sit in
• I brush my teeth in the shower
• I shave in the shower
• I bathe my bodily parts in this order (number them from first to last)
• arms
• feet
• groin
• back
• hair
• chest
• face
• legs
4. Toileting (check ur preferences)
• I do not use public restrooms
• I use the bathroom immediately upon arising in the morning
• I get up ___ times during the night to use the toilet
• I dont believe in wasting toilet paper
• I use lots of toilet paper
• I fold the toilet paper neatly before I use
• I shut the bathroom door before I use the toilet
• I need to sit awhile before I go.
• when I "get the urge" I have to go "NOW" 
• I read while I sit on the toilet
• I always stand when I urinate
5. Dressing/Undressing (Check your preferences)
• I sleep in the nude
• I sleep in my underwear
• I sleep in PJ's
• I sleep in a nightshirt or nightgown
• I stand when I dress
•  I sit when I dress
• I put my left/right arm into shirt-type garments first (pick a side)
• When putting on shirt-type garments, I put both hands in together and slip it over my head.
• I put my left/right foot into pants/skirts/ect first.
• I put my left/right shoe on first
• Females: I hook my bra in the front of my body and then turn it to the back
• Females: i hook my bra in the back
• Females: I dont wear a bra
• Females: I wear nylons
• Females: I always wear high-heeled shoes
• Males: I wear jockey style/boxer underpants
6. Eating (check what you like)
• I never eat breakfast
• I eat one food at a time and finish that food before i start another
• I place my food in a particular arrangement on my plate (such as meat at 12oclock, veggies at 3 o'clock)
• I feed myself with my left/right hand
• I prefer to sip/drink liquids before/during/after my meal
• I would gag if someone fed me
• I cannot eat if someone near me chews with his/her mouth open.
7. Occupation:
• I worked outdoors
• I worked indoors
• Number of years in my occupation ___
• Key elements of my job include:________--> 
8. Leisure/Hobbies
• I enjoy inside activities
• I enjoy outside activities
• I would rather participate in group activities
• I would rather participate in individual activities
• Circle your favorite type of activity: crafts, gardening, sports, reading, music, computer,drawing, building, fixing,TV, playing with animals, socializing
9. Assistive Devices
• Crutches
• cane
• walker
• braces
• splints
• corrective shoes
• wheelchair