Mother Connie Sez...

Broken Man

2011-07-20T13:11:00.001-05:00

There was a Poetry Slam recently held in Southeast Nebraska. The second place winner presented the audience a poem that was very telling about his prison experience. Here is his winning entry:

Broken Man

Broken Man, Broken Man.
Look, everyone!
It is a broken man,
Existing in his broken world, surrounded by broken people.
As Broken Man attempts to rise above the broken system, he grasps for any nut or bolt a broken society will toss his way,
In hopes to repair his broken self.
Will Broken Man ever be whole again?
Or, is he doomed to be discarded by the broken system and labeled as useless, marred, rejected?
Has he not paid the debt of his actions that deemed him unfit for society in the first place?
Will that debt ever be paid?
Will the solitude and pain of isolation ever balance the scales to merit a clean slate?
Let us also not forget about the ones society has hired to calculate the size of the debt.
Will they ever be satisfied?
It seems they are never satisfied on the small everyday scale,
So how does Broken Man even THINK about satisfying them on the grand scale?
Are they also not broken?
Someone once shouted, “Have faith, Broken Man. Have faith!”
Faith! FAITH?
Have faith in WHAT? A broken system?
Or, are you referring to blind faith?
And what about blind justice and good old rationalization and justification?
It is all mental masturbation-
You end up screwing yourself!
I GOT IT!
What about faith in Broken Man?
How do you repair your broken self?
Forge your own nuts and bolts, piece yourself back together?
I can envision it all now…
Headlines! Headlines! Read all about it-
“Broken Man repairs himself. Vows to repair the broken system.”
Look out, broken world!
Look out, broken world!

~Tom

Tom gives us much food for thought. We invite your comments. It would thrill Tom's heart to know others have read his poem and have opinions about it. Do remember you are welcome comment anonymously.

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly

Restorative Justice Summarized

2011-07-18T09:13:00.001-05:00

The following post summarizes the Symposium featuring Restorative Justice, which was sponsored by the 7th Step Club at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

The Tecumseh State Correctional Facility hosted a symposium which was attended by 20 guests from outside the walls. About twice that many inmates participated, as well. The event was hosted by the 7th Step Club, an on-campus organization whose mission it is to eradicate recidivism.

We were warmly welcomed, offered hospitality and treated to four speakers who addressed the issues surrounding Restorative Justice. These gentlemen were very well spoken and had completed the college level course in criminal justice taught by Professor Kelly Asmussen from Peru State College at Peru, Nebraska. The men who make up the 7th Step Club were so impressed with what they learned that they wanted to share their newly found knowledge.

We heard how the Native American community dealt with those whose behaviors was outside the acceptable norm. The Indians did not punish their people for being sick in their spirit any more than we would imprison someone who had an infection. They worked with the offender to heal the imbalance and create harmony in the tribe. Other speakers shared their personal stories of transformation and how the college class had positively impacted their lives.

Restorative Justice works in much the same way as the Native American model. The offender, the victim and the community work together in a spirit of truth and love and harmony to restore balance. The offender becomes accountable; the victim has his needs met because he feels heard and understood and the community supports both in order to reestablish and maintain order and balance. It becomes a win/win/win situation.

Following the inspirational addresses, the entire audience was divided into small discussion groups. There were three burning questions for each circle to address:

1.   Is there a problem?
2.   What can restorative justice offer?
3.   How can restorative justice be implemented?

Our particular group was made up of people from every color and stripe, both men and women and was ably facilitated by one of the featured speakers. We examined and talked about the problems and their solutions; every member of our group was candid and forthcoming.

Recidivism is an indicator that problems exist; prison overcrowding is another. There is little or no opportunity for educational pursuits. Even though parole or release is predicated on mandatory programs, those very programs are closed or unavailable to those who would participate.

What is now in place in Nebraska is Retributive Justice. It is purely punitive. There is no arrangement for personal growth or transformation. There is no reward for enlightenment, education or transformation. Punitive action does not create balance or harmony; indeed, it often feeds violence, more offenses, poor morale among the prisoners as well as their keepers. Finally, it creates a climate conducive to recidivism. Simple punishment affects all the stakeholders: the offender, the victim and the community ADVERSELY.

Society prefers to place offenders of every type of crime into pigeon holes and turn a blind eye to those who are incarcerated. Perhaps this is because society knows no other remedy and John and Jane Q Public are fearful.

Our group was keenly aware that forging a career with a conviction in one’s past is nearly impossible. Overcrowded facilities further complicate this issue; so does society’s reticence to accept felons back into society after their sentences have been served. People who leave prison are often ill prepared to live outside prison walls because they lack basic skills for life on the streets and they do not know how to access resources.

All these factors contribute to the return of offenders to what is familiar: prison.

Another consideration is the financial cost associated with incarcerating people. Most experts agree that room and board for prisons runs in the neighborhood of $30,000.00 and upward. That’s a pretty high rent neighborhood. Our group offered that some prisoners, with accountability and transition training, could be paroled or released in order to CONTRIBUTE to community coffers with their taxes, wages spent on goods and services; furthermore they could offer service to the community.

We posed this question: ‘Could we really eradicate recidivism?’ Furthermore, is it not possible, even advisable, to have offenders become accountable and transformed through Restorative Justice, become transformed and truly SUCCEED in life?

The good news is that Tecumseh State Correctional Facility will be offering this college credit course again, thanks to Professor Kelly Asmussen and his students.

Those of us from the streets who were fortunate to have attended that 7th Step Symposium featuring Restorative Justice will never be quite the same again. We had been enlightened and our hearts were touched and inspired.

The many comments we have received regarding this subject have warmed our hearts and we invite you to give us your feedback. As always, you are free to remain anonymous.

Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly

Restorative Justice: Small Group Discussions Continue

2011-06-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

Our discussion group was not shy and did not lack for ideas!

*Third in a series about Restorative Justice

If you have been following this series of posts regarding Restorative Justice, you know that there was an event at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Part of the program included small group discussions led by speakers featured as part of the afternoon’s presentation. There have been so many items on our small group’s list of problems that one post was insufficient. Hence, we continue today:

Our group was given three questions to ponder and discuss:

·    Is there a problem?
·    What could Restorative Justice offer?
·    How could Restorative Justice be implemented?

We weren’t a shy bunch; there were lively, animated contributions from every participant and much agreement. You might recall that our discussion group was made up of offenders and people of every walk of life from the community at large.

What might Restorative Justice offer?

We concluded that Restorative Justice-bringing an offender, his victim, and the entire community together to have every need met, including discipline and education, as well as accountability-would most assuredly help to heal many wounded lives. No one believed this would be an easy task. Feelings run deep and healing the wounds caused by crime is not easily or swiftly resolved. Those who would implement this type of justice in lieu of Retributive Justice-which is what is now in place in Nebraska-would need to come together in a spirit of truth and love. Not everyone will be eager to do so.

Another feature of this concept will be a stronger sense of peace and unity throughout the community, including the prison population. Relieving the stress of guilt and shame will help those who are incarcerated concentrate on their own personal transformation with higher levels of empathy for their victims and the community at large. Victims who feel heard and respected will understand that their needs will be met, too, and that will be nourishing to them and their families. Everyone will have hope.

How, then, might Restorative Justice be implemented?

This type of justice is hard at work in some areas. It seems to be a well guarded secret, while media reports of crime continue to dominate headlines and newscasts. Media’s job, after all, is to sell their product so they sensationalize the bad things in society and overlook the good news.

Our group agreed that Restorative Justice needs to start behind the prison walls, with every offender owning up to his or her crime and taking responsibility for their own actions. From the inside out, there would ideally be programs in place to support what Restorative Justice calls for. Then, and only then, would the victim feel respected and heard. Following that, the community could then feel as if they could lend their support and help the process in any way possible.

What, if anything IS being done to implement Restorative Justice?

Former gang members who have drastically transformed their lives from criminal activity to contributing to society in meaningful and positive ways are already moving about in groups of students to steer young people away from gangs and get them into programs that are more appropriate.

People who are interested in getting Restorative Justice to replace the punitive methods employed by Retributive Justice are working diligently with Nebraska legislators, city councils, youth groups, support groups, churches and ministers and clubs within prison walls to educate people.

As a shining example of community support, Omaha has myriad clusters of community based activities, such as weekly meetings to inform one another about the activities and goals of helping support youth and their families throughout Omaha. There are a number of networks who help to reintegrate offenders back into the community by assisting with employment, budgeting, housing, and transportation so as to reduce recidivism. There are people helping other people on a one-to-one basis to aid felons in continuing transformation of their lives. There is a mountain of assistance available just for the asking in order to gain computer skills, to complete job applications, to find housing and become an integral, valuable, contributing member of the community. Help is also available for obtaining help providing food and clothing.

These kinds of things could happen in ANY community! By coming together with open minds, open hearts and open arms, we can put Restorative Justice firmly in place. When that happens, we can be sure to minimize crime as well as recidivism. The quality of human life will be maximized to the fullest extent possible.

What’s it going to take, then?

·    Offender
·    Victim
·    Community

Meet the needs of the above list of people in truth and love and you’ve got yourself a mighty fine situation. Continue in this line of thinking and behaving and the old retribution system will be outdated, outmoded, and out voted! It will slink away into the annals of history, unneeded.

It rather smacks of peace on earth. Don't you think so, too?

The next post will summarize this concept and the event that showcased it. We so appreciate your comments, questions, and yes, even your criticism.

You are always welcome to comment anonymously.

Connie Baum

Restorative Justice: Small Group Discussions

2011-06-27T17:54:00.000-05:00


Would we need so many prisons if we implemented Restorative Justice?

*Second in a series of posts about Restorative Justice

Previously we have explained that Restorative Justice is accomplished by joining forces with an offender, a victim and the victim’s family, and the community. It has been demonstrated that by working together, much healing can take place. The offender will be accountable, the victim’s needs can be identified and met and the community can feel safe because balance will have been achieved.

When the 7th Step Club at Tecumseh State Correctional Facility hosted a symposium to elucidate the public, there were presentations given by inmates and following these eloquent presentations we were divided into small groups to discuss the matter in depth.

Each of the speakers was a Group Leader and took careful notes from the group’s input. We were asked to answer these three questions:

1.    Is there a problem?
2.    What can Restorative Justice offer?
3.    How can Restorative Justice be implemented?

Did our group identify any problems?

Our group agreed that recidivism indicates there are problems. Prison overcrowding is an issue. Punitive action does not help people “get better”. Incarceration, by its nature, removes hope. Simple punishment-aka incarceration-affects all the stakeholders, which includes the offender, the victim and the community.

What is now in place in Nebraska is RETRIBUTIVE Justice, which, by definition is punitive and not disciplinary or instructional. This means there is little or no opportunity or encouragement for education, enlightenment or transformation.

Society prefers placing offenders of every crime into “boxes” and forgetting about them or their needs. This might be because society does not know any other remedy.

It is nearly impossible to forge a career with a conviction in one’s past. There are issues surrounding education; one of the issues is logistically making room for educational pursuits. Overcrowded facilities further complicate this issue, as do society’s hesitance to accept offenders after their incarceration. In addition, those who are incarcerated lack many basic skills and tools to perform well in society. They won’t necessarily have computer skills or they may lack training for various jobs. Unless felons are successful in life “on the streets” they are likely to make their way behind prison walls again.

Are there resources in place as solutions?

During our group’s dialogue we learned from our fellow group participants that there are many community based programs available to help integrate offenders back into the community. The issue with these programs is that they are duplicitous and those returning to the community are not likely to know about their existence.

Were there other considerations?

One topic that popped up again and again in our group was the issue of having programs mandated for inmates. The inmates are instructed that they must have these programs in order to qualify for parole or release but those programs are unavailable or closed to them! The excuses the inmates hear have to do with lack of money, lack of materials, lack of room. The FEELING is that the system wants to keep incarcerated individuals in place in order to satisfy employment requirements at state-run facilities.

There are so many more items we addressed; further posts will continue in this vein.

Do YOU have someone close to you who has been incarcerated? If so, you may be familiar with many of the issues brought to bear in our small group discussion.   You may have gleaned information, insights, and solutions that might benefit others. There is much more to be said about this important topic; subsequent posts will address the above list of questions and a summary, so please return to read more about Restorative Justice.

It would be wonderful to have your comments. You are even welcome to do so anonymously.

Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly

Restorative Justice

2011-06-26T17:00:00.000-05:00


If an offender, a victim, and a community come together behind prison walls, can healing take place?

*This is the first in a series of posts about Restorative Justice...

The Normanator and I were treated like royalty when we were part of a group of guests attending the Tecumseh State Correctional Facility, the site for a symposium sponsored by the 7th Step Club. Members of 7th Step are working diligently to eradicate recidivism-return to prison.

We were escorted by officers of the facility to the gymnasium where a welcoming committee greeted us and offered us warm hospitality. There was assigned seating, arranged in a circle and a simple program agenda waited on each chair.

This event was the culmination of a college credit class in Restorative Justice, taught at the prison by Professor Kelly Asmussen of Peru State College. Fifteen students and fifteen incarcerated men met weekly to study Restorative Justice. The prisoners were eager to share all they had learned with John Q. Public.

Restorative Justice? What IS that?

This subject seems to have been a well guarded secret. You may be familiar with Restorative Justice or you may know it as Reparative Justice. By either name, the whole concept is for offenders, victims and communities to come together to mend the damage caused when someone breaks the law. It may be a simple situation where resolution can come quickly. It may require much time and a lot of hard work on all three sides.

Our group heard from four eloquent speakers who had participated in the professor's class. One of the speakers, a Mohawk Indian, talked about how Native Americans deal with those who behave outside societal or tribal norms to heal the effects of their offense. We were told that the offender is kept separate from the rest of the tribe. The one who committed an offense might live with the Medicine Man to receive herbs and other remedies to heal his Spirit and bring balance in to the offender's life and balance to tribal life once again. This example was given: If a young man had been murdered, the offender would be required to care for the parents of the dead man for the rest of their lives in the manner the couple's son would have done if he had not died prematurely.

Sick Spirits vs Sick Bodies

The speaker reiterated that people who are sick with physical ailments would not be jailed for their illness; so, too, should it be that people who commit crimes because their Spirit or their Mind is troubled needs to be healed, not imprisoned.

Other speakers mentioned life experiences which contributed to the commission of their crimes. They explained how they learned to set aside resentment and bitterness and become the people they were meant to be. They have taken responsibility and provided accountability. They have all done various things to right the wrongs they have caused and have rewired their brains so as to contribute to society and behave correctly when they are released from their sentences.

Group Participation

The entire audience formed small groups after these inspirational speeches. The goal of each group was to discuss what we had heard and respond to a list of questions the group leaders posed. That portion of the symposium will be the thrust of the next post.

As always, your comments and questions are most welcome!

Connie Baum

Emergency Preparedness Because Mother Connie Sez!

2011-05-24T14:27:00.000-05:00

Does your family have an emergency preparedness plan?

There are many events going on around the world. Recently some bad storms have hit close enough to our home to make us blink and wonder if we are really ready in case of an emergency. One of our local television stations provided their viewing audience with a handy dandy list and we have it here for your perusal, along with Mother Connie's candid commentary:

1. Water—one gallon per person, per day *3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home.
We are the proud owners of a Nikken Aqua Pour. It is portable, so we can simply pick it up and carry it to our vehicle, even in a rush. We'll need jugs of distilled water, though...

2. Food—nonperishable, easy to prepare items *3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home.
We're good with peanut butter. Better make sure there's a knife for spreading it, though. We could easily grab bags of fruit from the fridge. Might be a good idea to make up some sammies ahead of time, for the freezer, too. Oh, and think of all the snacks provided by chocolate chips, packages of nuts and dried fruit!

3. Flashlight
This will only be practical if The Normanator remembers to get a fresh supply of batteries.

4. Battery-powered or hand crank radio *NOAA Weather Radio, if possible.
Does the car radio count?

5. Extra batteries
Better hope these are fresh. Is it true they keep well in the fridge?

6. First aid kit
There's one under the front seat of the car. Do those ever expire?

7. 7 day supply of medications and medical items
Presumably this would include food supplements, as well. Good thing we keep ours together in a basket on the kitchen table. Handy, handy...

8. Multipurpose tool
This no doubt refers to The Normanator's Swiss Knife. And our favorite manual can opener.

9. Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Supposedly this would include tooth brushes and ToothSoap, which are always at the ready in their own cute travel bag. When I was 13 it would have included cosmetics, which, thank you, God, are no longer necessities. grin Mother Connie strongly suggests having a coffee can with a tight fitting lid for use as a "porta-potty" if need be. AND DO REMEMBER TO INCLUDE A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER.

10. Copies of personal documents-medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies.
Recent events have brought this into sharp focus for our family. MAKE CERTAIN you have your Living Will current! Make extra copies "JUST IN CASE" because your life will be far less complex if you have the foresight and the forethought to take care of these details when you are not emotionally stressed.

11. Cell phones with chargers
If you have ever forgotten your charger on a trip, you know how frustrating this can be.

12. Family and emergency contact information
This is a good time to use "ICE"-- be sure to program 'in case of emergency' numbers into your phones. That way emergency responders will know who they should contact on your behalf.

13. Extra cash
I can only presume this is a cruel joke. In the first place my own wallet currently has 15 cents in nickels and what would I buy if there were an emergency? Seriously, a family would be wise to have some folding money and a full tank of gasoline on deck.

14. Emergency blanket
Maybe each family member should have his own? And might sleeping bags be good for this purpose? Our family members would each want his own pillow too.

15. Map(s) of the area
The Normanator will be only too pleased to have a map. Under ordinary condtitions, he almost sleeps with the Atlas...Might be wise to have a pencil with that map, too.

We've taken a rather lighthearted look at a potentially critical subject. You might want to consider becoming prepared. It couldn't hurt and it might make all the difference.

You can buy good sized plastic totes that hold substantial quantities of items. Creating a plan and getting your emergency kit together might make a good family projec. Gathering all your supplies and thinking through an escape plan might be a fruitful learning experience for everyone in your family.

Let's hope you never have to utilize any emergency plan or open that emergency kit, though!

Mother Connie Sez: Home Remedies Might Work...

2011-04-03T20:30:00.000-05:00

Looks as if Grandpa has some doozees...Dr. Joseph Mercola has a fair share, too and we want you to know about them:

Dr. Joseph Mercola offered these timely remedies for us to consider on his website, which is featured at the bottom of this post. We thank Dr. M sincerely!

Healing practices of yore; natural remedies that were passed from one generation from another, lost a lot of footing with the advent of modern medicine that has a pill for every possible ailment. But does that mean grandma, and all the women before her, were all wrong

Of course not.

In fact, many of the ailments you experience can be addressed using very simple, natural means. Yahoo Health offers up seven different folklore remedies for common problems. Below I will review my own recommendations for these ailments.

Motion Sickness

Olives may be of some help here, but ginger is far better. It's traditionally used to treat nausea, but also seems to work quite well against motion sickness. To make a tea, simply slice off a small amount of fresh ginger and steep it in hot water for 30 seconds up to several minutes. Ginger is very potent, so taste it at regular intervals of about 30 seconds—it can get very strong fast!

Alternatively, for a quicker but less elegant solution, just take a half teaspoon of the fresh ginger and finely dice it with a knife and swallow it whole. It has worked every time I have had the need for it. It probably is the most consistently effective herbal food that I have seen work nearly every time.

In addition to ginger, the University of Maryland Medical Center also suggests using peppermint and black horehound, which is actually a traditional remedy for motion sickness.

These herbs can be taken as:

• Dried extracts in the form of capsules, powders, or teas

• Liquid extracts or tinctures

To make a tea using dried herb, put about one teaspoon of the herb into a tea strainer and place it in a cup of hot water. Avoid adding sugar. If you absolutely need some sweetness, try a couple of drops of liquid stevia instead.

Another excellent method that you can do whenever and wherever motion sickness strikes, is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It balances your subtle energy system and calms your motion sensors, and this will calm your symptoms of motion sickness and allow you to finally enjoy the pleasures of travel.

Bad Breath

The devil is in the details when it comes to the recommendation to use yoghurt to combat bad breath, because most of the yoghurt you find today is loaded with sugar and made from pasteurized milk. You do NOT want to use these commercially available yoghurts as they are more likely to do more harm than good.

Only use traditionally fermented yoghurt, such as kefir made from raw milk with no added sugar. Another alternative is to consume traditionally fermented foods (such as natto or tempeh), or take a high quality probiotic like Complete Probiotics.

How is it that these types of foods and bacteria can help against bad breath?

Because halitosis, or bad breath, is typically caused by systemic diseases, gastrointestinal and/or upper respiratory tract disorders, and microbial metabolism from your tongue, saliva or dental plaque—all of which are indicators of systemic unbalance, which can be remedied with probiotics in the form of an oral supplement or fermented foods.

In addition to reseeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut, I highly recommend limiting the primary fertilizer for the bacteria that cause bad breath, namely SUGAR and grains that rapidly break down to sugar. That automatically means cutting down on processed foods (which are high in both grains and sugars/high fructose corn syrup), as they cause bad odor-causing bacteria to grow out of control.

Beware that mouthwashes are only effective against bad breath caused by intraoral factors. Gargling and swishing can't help you much if your problem stems from an imbalance of bacteria in your intestinal tract, for example.

Hiccups

Definitely do NOT use sugar for hiccups. There are many better options that do not involve spiking your insulin.

One interesting method that seems to work is to have someone hold down the tragus of your ear to close off your ear canal while you drink a FULL glass of water. This has been the single most effective remedy I have ever used for hiccups. It is the rare occasion where it doesn't work.

Eczema

A really simple, inexpensive way to relieve the hallmark itch of eczema is to put a saltwater compress over the itchy area. You'll want to use a high quality natural salt, such as Himalayan salt. Simply make a solution with warm water, soak a compress, and apply the compress over the affected area. You'll be amazed to find that the itching will virtually disappear!

You also want to make sure your skin is optimally hydrated. Skin creams are rarely the answer here, but rather you'll want to hydrate your skin from the inside out by consuming high quality, animal-based omega-3 fats in your diet, such as krill oil. I also find it helpful to include a bit of gamma linoleic acid, typically in the form of primrose oil, as this works remarkably well for eczema.

Products like "krill for women" are good for both sexes for this condition as they have both fatty acids.

(Plant-based omega-3s like flax and hemp seed, although decent omega-3 sources in general, will not provide the clinical benefit you need to reduce inflammation and swelling in your skin.)

Additionally, food allergies play an enormous role in eczema. In my experience, the most common offending agent is wheat, or more specifically, gluten. Avoiding wheat and other gluten-containing grains is therefore a wise first step.

Avoiding grains will also reduce the amount of sugar in your system, which will normalize your insulin levels and reduce any and all inflammatory conditions you may have, including inflammation in your skin. Other common allergens include milk and eggs. I recommend you do an elimination trial with these foods as well. You should see some improvement in about a week, sometimes less, after eliminating them from your diet if either of them is causing you trouble.

Last but not least, vitamin D in the form of sun exposure can be your best friend when dealing with eczema and other skin conditions, such as psoriasis.

Ideally, you'll want to get your vitamin D from appropriate sunshine exposure because UVB radiation on your skin will not only metabolize vitamin D, but will also help restore optimal skin function. High amounts of UVB exposure directly on affected skin – but not so much to cause sunburn! – will greatly improve the quality of your skin.

If you can't get sufficient amounts of sun during the winter months, a high quality safe tanning bed can suffice. A safe tanning bed will provide the optimized forms of UVA and UVB wavelengths, without dangerous EMF exposure.

Toenail Fungus

Interestingly, about five years ago I posted a video with the dubious recommendation to use Vicks VapoRub to treat toenail fungus. The response from my readers was amazing—hundreds of people wrote me to confirm it really does work!

My experience tells me that when such a large number of people anecdotally confirm something, it probably has some merit. So, although I can't explain why it works, it certainly seems harmless enough to give it a try. If you've ever had a toenail fungus, you know it can be a vexing problem that can last for years with no obvious solution, so this simple remedy could be a welcome boon for many.

One way to reduce your risk of fungal infections is to cut down on sugar, which feeds the fungi. Spending time in the ocean on a regular basis can also help.

I have also struggled with this problem and never found a prescription or natural approach to work until I started spending my winters in the sub–tropical environments. About 1 ½ years ago I had a recurrence after wearing neoprene "Five Finger" type shoes for six months with no socks.

However when I spent the winter in the subtropics wearing no shoes and having my toenails receive hours of direct sun exposure every day the problem disappeared. The UV rays were more than enough to solve the problem. No Vapo Rub required. This does take 4-6 months though of nearly daily sun exposure to work, in combination with wearing sandals most of the time so there is no moist environment for the fungus to grow.

Headache

If you're prone to headaches, I strongly advise you to evaluate your lifestyle to determine the root cause. There are many types of headaches, each with its own set of triggers.

For general headaches that do not appear to be due to tension or poor posture, I've found that avoiding wheat, grains, sugar, artificial sweeteners and preservatives, and all fluids but water seems to be particularly effective. Those suffering from recurrent migraines would also do well to heed this advice. Just remember to stay the course, as dietary changes do take some time to work.

Migraines are also another common type of headache and it has been my experience that artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, trigger them in many people. So avoid all diet products.

Two methods that offer more immediate relief include intravenous magnesium and the Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT in particular is usually very effective for relieving pain of all kinds, oftentimes removing your pain in as little as a few minutes.

Upper Respiratory Infections and Sore Throat

There's a mountain of evidence showing that vitamin D plays a key role in your immune system, so maintaining optimal vitamin D levels is your number one defense against infections of all kinds, including upper respiratory infections.

The wintertime deficiency of vitamin D (which your body produces in response to sunlight) has been implicated in the seasonal increase in colds and flu, and a number of studies have suggested an association between low blood levels of vitamin D and a higher risk of respiratory infections. For detailed guidelines on optimizing your vitamin D levels, please see my article Test Values and

Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency.

Another really simple and inexpensive treatment that is surprisingly effective against upper respiratory infections is hydrogen peroxide.

Many patients at my Natural Health Center have had remarkable results in treating colds and flu within 12 to 14 hours when administering a few drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into each ear. (A bottle of hydrogen peroxide in 3 percent solution is available at any drug store for a couple of dollars or less.) You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation. Wait until the bubbling and slight stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.

To treat a sore throat, few remedies are as tried-and-true as honey. Just make sure you use raw honey, as the vast majority of honey for sale in the United States is highly processed or refined, which, like most other refined foods, can promote disease and damage your health rather than help.

A simple recipe using all natural ingredients, such as raw honey, spices and herbs, can be found at the bottom of this previous article.

*Mother Connie gently reminds you that The Healing Codes lend themselves well to self healing and can remedy difficult conditions by using techniques and protocols developed by Dr. Alex Loyd and those techniques have changed the lives of many, including Dr. Ben Johnson.

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Closets? Really?

2011-03-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Let's begin by saying that the house where we live is generously blessed with closets. The sliding doors have exquisite wood grain and the house was built in the 1960's, so closets were not overlooked. Each bedroom has ample closet space and there is a coat closet near our front door.

That said, if you stopped by, you'd never know there's a closet in the place!

We seem to live like teenagers. When we come in from the paper route, we are tired and want our coffee, so we peel off our layers and hang them on the corners of the chair at the desk in the living room. We take off our boots; Norm lines his up along the china cupboard. I tuck mine under a chair near the computer desk. Hats, scarves and gloves go in a heap, wherever they land.

As our day progresses, Norm's jammies hang on one of the posts of the bed. His shoes are lined up beside the bureau.   My jeans might wind up on a doorknob.

Were my mother still with us, she would have a COW.   From what I know about Norm's mother, I think SHE also would disapprove of these sloppy habits.

We do know better. We just don't take the time to hang things up properly. We fancy they are "handier" and more convenient as we pile them around.

My own mother was fastidious. She was a stay at home mom of one and she took great pride in her homemaking skills. She had a place for everything and everything was in its place. I'm not sure how I've strayed so far from my upbringing. But to be fair, my mother did not have a paper route during the night and she did not blog by day. grin

There was a time-I must have been about 4 years old-when my mother and father disagreed about who should pick up whose dirty clothes and put them into the hamper. I remember coming out of my bedroom one morning to find my mother's hosiery draped over a lamp and across the back of the sofa. Her shoes were on a table. Her dress hung from the light fixture in the ceiling and her unmentionables were stuck under the cushions of the chairs, just so they were easily seen.

I asked what had happened, for I was sure we had been invaded by fly-by-night closet re-organizers. My mother and father exchanged looks and I knew I should never have brought it up. But after that demonstration my dad was careful to pick up his socks and place them in the laundry hamper on a regular basis. I never noted that he got a hernia from doing so. That subject never came up again, either.

When 2011 rolled in, I vowed to simplify my life. Perhaps I've carried that a wee bit too far. It could be time to rethink my bad habits. . .But what are the chances of Norm going along with me? I have a cousin who is a professional organizer. I guess it's time to pick up the phone...

Connie Baum
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Mother Connie Sez: Never Say Never?

2011-03-18T14:40:00.000-05:00

Do you wear eyeglasses? Contact lenses? Maybe you have had the Lasik surgery that's so popular now. Family members of mine have had it and are glad they did.

Mother Connie has been sporting contacts since being courted by The Normanator. They have worked like a charm and there was never any "fogging" of lenses that came into a warm house from a cold winter's day. No smears to wipe away, either. Best of all, I could clearly read the clock if I woke during the night!

As time has passed, the need for more power became apparent as i reached for "cheaters" more and more often. I dearly hoped that was not an old lady thing. You KNOW how I've been 33 for all these many years...

Well, age has caught up with Mother Connie, more's the pity. Cataracts, which I swore never to have, made their appearance rather suddenly. There is a date for the eye surgeon who removed my parents' cataracts to remove mine. Dr. Proffitt is legendary for his work as a pioneer in eye care. I'll be in good hands.

I went to my tell-all book about disease. I wanted to understand WHY I have these little monsters growing where they are not welcome. What IS the lesson I'm to learn? Here is what the book says:

"Cataracts are caused by not wanting to see what the future holds in store."

I'll be dipped in dew! Now, if only we could find the book showing what the lesson is to be learned from this. Stay tuned; I may figure it out. OR, YOU MAY KNOW WHAT I DO NOT AND YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER. Leave your comment, won't you? Thanks oodles. I still have the ability to read mail. grin

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Shea Butter Has Many Benefits

2011-03-05T13:31:00.000-06:00


Beautiful Ghana Women shown with their Shea butter

You have met my Ghana friend, Boat. He sent me this photo of Ghana women gathered around a good supply of Shea butter. Their colorful garb is as interesting to me as the baskets filled with Shea butter! And look at the joy in their faces!

Boat shared with me some of the properties of Shea butter. I know it is a wonderful emollient for I have used it when I was working as a massage therapist. I have used a plethora of oils and lotions and potions. Shea is my all time forever fave.

"Shea butter has been known to work well against stretch marks. It also benefits those suffering dry skin, dermatitis and sunburn. It is effective because it protects the skin against the harmful rays of the sun. Since Shea butter is well tolerated by the skin, it usually does not trigger off any allergic reactions. It is an ideal agent for use by persons with sensitive skin.

This is a partial list of conditions that may be helped by the application of Shea butter:

Fading scars
eczema
burns
rashes
acne
severely dry skin
blemishes
dark spots and skin discolorations
chapped lips
wrinkles
may lessen the irritation of psoriasis"

Boat says that in Nigeria, Shea butter is used for the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion. Wouldn't that play well in the USA, too? No doubt that would be due to the properties of hydration, which would help relax the tension in the face-that would ease respiration. Golly, it even SOUNDS relaxing!

There are some serious admonitions about Shea butter, dear readers. Those will come along with the next post, rest assured.

If you HAVE some Shea butter, go use it now. If you do not, please wash out your mouth with soap...TOOTHSOAP, that is!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly

Mother Connie Sez: Shea Butter is Sheer Luxury

2011-03-05T12:57:00.001-06:00

Shea butter is Mother Connie's emollient of choice for massage work.

You aren't likely to think about massage work as often as your humble blogger does. Even though retirement came along, the things learned over three decades of body work do not fade into oblivion.

As you know, the internet has replaced massage work for this kid. Social Networking led me to Twitter. That's where I met a young Ghana man I call "Boat." It turned out that I became his online mom and we have kept in touch over the past few years, popping in with instant chats and Tweets to make sure we stay in one anothers' loops. His latest news is that he is very interested to showcase Shea Butter.

Boat hit the Hot Button! Shea Butter is the ultimate in body care. It comes from Africa, where it is extracted from the Shea nut. It has traditionally come from West Africa but some is coming now from East Africa.

My friend, Boat, who lives in Ghana, has written to me about this product. He is in hopes that people will learn about its benefits and get as excited about Shea butter as the two of us! Here is part of his message to me about Shea butter:

"We all know of Shea butter as children growing up throughout Ghana. What I think is that most of us have not yet realized the importance of Shea Butter to the World Market and the economy today.

Women of Ghana spend comparable monies as other societies on cosmetic products that only contain about 5% of Shea Butter with the other 95% made up of synthetic compounds to give a desired texture and scent.

Compare the price of a kilo of Shea Butter in Accra against the price of an imported jar of cosmetic containing 5% or less of Shea Butter. Would it not be prudent to take that kilo of Shea butter and add your own preferred infused scent?

Why not design your own skin cream? Collect a variety of wild flower petals; select the scent of each one that you like. You can even go as far as blending different scents together until you get the right one. Finally, get a piece of light, white cotton material and make a small medicine bag to hold your petal mix.

Put the required amount of Shea Butter and medicine bag of petals into a large clear glass jar with a lid, leave it in direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks. Every evening open the jar to test the strength of the scent. If need be, add some more petals.

From this humble beginning you could possibly go on to achieve a cottage industry with a Product designed on the uniqueness out of the garden of Ghana. Please let Mother Connie know about your successes so she can let me know how you enjoy using Shea butter! Just leave your comments in the comment box below this post, where it says "comments"."

Boat was so gracious as to send a list of Shea butter's benefits. We will continue our discussion on this topic by revealing those in the next post! Do stay tuned!

Connie Baum
PS/Using Shea butter on your body and ToothSoap on your pearly whites will be the ULTIMATE in body care!
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly

Mother Connie Sez: Balance and Motion?

2011-02-22T12:53:00.000-06:00

It is so wonderful to be able to brag about one's kids, especially when there's no objection! Here is an example:

My daughter teaches Tai Chi in Astoria, Oregon. The Daily Astorian Newspaper heard about her classes and came by with their video camera.

Tai Chi is a wonderful adjunct to any other healing modality, including The Healing Codes. No matter your age or ability level, you will find good things about Tai Chi. Should you be so fortunate as to live in the Astoria, Oregon locale you could choose Angela for your instructor. But you should know she has a waiting list for her classes! Tell her Mother Connie sent you, won't you please?

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Is it Synchronicity?

2011-02-16T08:39:00.001-06:00

Michael Birdsong

Any parent of children with special needs knows the management of their care can be challenging from the inside out.

If those needs are apparent at a child’s birth, there is shock and a tsunami wave of emotion ranging from fear and anger to guilt and sorrow. There is loneliness, worry, and confusion, too.
When those abate-or diminish-there is the day to day routine which can be punctuated with medical appointments and crises; sleep deprivation and difficult decisions.

When special needs children reach adulthood, it most likely means their parents have reached Social Security status. What about the perpetuity of the care of precious, special offspring?

Let me share with you a story:

Our little fellow had an assortment of birth defects that meant his birth parents were unable to care for him. He was shuttled from hospital to hospital until he was three years old, at which time he became available for foster care.

As this little boy was enduring surgeries to correct his anomalies our own family was mourning the loss of four babies who, for various reasons, did not survive their births. Because we wanted to round out our family to 4, we applied to the State to be foster parents.

Little Michael Birdsong arrived at our home on a blistering June day, accompanied by a social worker and her aide. Michael wriggled a lot and it was a full time job to make sure he stayed inside the car!

SIDEBAR: This was in the era prior to child car seats and seat belts! END SIDEBAR.

Michael Birdsong had been described to us as a blond, blue eyed charmer who was in need of an emergency placement. We later learned that the woman who planned to foster him for the long term had a family emergency of her own and was unable to accept this placement. We also found out that our home was the THIRD home in 21 days; the FOURTH in a month!

There was magic in the moment. He reached his little arms out to all of us and directed his greeting to me: “HI, MOM!” We all fell in love with one another that day.

Life with Michael has never been dull. There were endless rounds of medical appointments and clinics; there were his strange behaviors and made-up language; we marveled at his will to do what all our kids were doing, despite the physical challenges and intellectual differences.

Along the way, The Bird was named Foster Child of the Year. He got to hug “his” Governor on TV the same day he ate lunch with him!

When he graduated high school and walked unassisted across the stage to accept his Special Ed diploma from the Governor of our state, another of “his” Governors, he got a standing O and it was quite the moment.

Along his journey from his arrival to our home and high school graduation he had endured many surgeries, three episodes of long term coma, in addition to many other ailments. He was a trooper who could laugh at himself. HE MADE US LAUGH, TOO!

Our nest began to empty but Michael stayed at home with Mom. There was Adult Day Care and he was a people person who knew everyone in our neighborhood.

When Mom remarried it created a blended family. Michael’s new step daddy had a special needs son, too. He lived in a Group Home and attended a workshop. Michael remained in the home we had shared and continued to attend Adult Day Care. We checked on him often to make sure he was eating well and managing successfully. When we found him unconscious, in need of an emergency shunt revision to correct spinal fluid, the decision was made to put him into a Group Home so he would never be alone.

He lived with his step brother and one other housemate. They all bonded and have remained close friends.

Michael’s health began to deteriorate, however. A surgery from which he did not recover well left him with memory issues, confusion, and lethargy. It was an exceedingly painful decision, but it needed to be made: Michael Birdsong needed to be placed in a nursing facility for 24 hour care. At the time of his arrival, the staff estimated he might linger for six months. He was weak, thin, depressed, in great pain, and was very confused. He was 29 years young.

It was about this time in his life that Michael's Services Coordinator, who had been a faithful partner in so many transitions in The Birdman’s life, transferred to a different office. He would be served by a new coordinator. I will always remember the young dark haired beauty who arrived, curls bouncing, carrying in the stack of folders pertinent to Michael’s case. We loved HER at first sight, too! She was a mighty advocate for as long as she worked with Guy.

Over a decade, Michael’s health improved significantly. Because of what Mom had learned about water, supplements, sleep systems, energy medicine and a plethora of information he was able to participate in another workshop setting. It was with great joy that he became able to live in a Group Home. He would miss his friends at the Nursing Home but a Group Home would mean more opportunity for learning and a more upbeat existence.

There came a point at which things with the agency sponsoring Michael's group home began to unravel. Meanwhile, we were at a place where, as aging parents, we needed to simplify our lives. We consulted our beloved services coordinators-past and present-for answers to our dilemma.

As we were pondering and debating our course of action we learned of a brand new agency with a fresh vision and hopeful philosophy. Could we trust this new agency? Would they let us down?

After a VERY rough and rocky start to the beginning of a chapter in life that put those step brothers back under the same roof, we have met the people who will be caring for both guys.

These people WANT our boys. They have a home that is laid out so as to accommodate them. They have children and relatives who will embrace them, with all their warts and foibles. They seem to be well qualified and well trained for the herculean job they have accepted. This amazing couple, and their family, came to the agency at THE PERFECT TIME. I am persuaded it is a ‘God thing’!

Nothing in life is certain. But we are feeling mighty elated! We have no control over things like our kids’ lives, so we must TRUST that Divine Providence is at work.

Special needs have become special blessings on so many levels!

This morning we are marveling at the synchronicity of how our boys are enjoying a quality of life we dared to hope might be possible. If it is not synchronicity; if not a God thing, then, pray tell, what IS it?

Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

PS/My good friend, Rainy, has a blog devoted to the issues of Special Needs. It's called Growing Up Special and I'd love for you to cruise over there and check it out. ***Rainy loves comments as much as Mother Connie does, hint/hint!

Mother Connie Sez: "Ice Breaker?"

2011-02-08T12:44:00.000-06:00


Breaking the ice might be easy or difficult but it's always interesting!

You may recall that one of Mother Connie's passions is the Toastmasters, International Club that meets weekly at the local state prison. Seeing the growth and development of speaking and leadership skills emerging in LibOrators 986233 is thrilling and gratifying. Our most recent meeting was no exception.

Several of our members have been hand selected to participate in a Criminal Justice class for college credit and they were happy to share an ice-breaker activity with their fellow Toastmasters that helped everyone to understand what they are doing in their classwork. We volunteers were delighted to participate in this group activity.

The tables were arranged to one side of the room and the chairs were set up in a circle. The leader gave us all a topic to consider and we took turns responding to his subjects. Some were humorous and light hearted; others were designed to make a person think. Every single subject peeled away any extraneous "masks" we may have worn and allowed us to see one another-and ourselves-as we really ARE. It was a beautiful and revealing exercise. Besides that, it was great fun!

The very first item that was tossed to us had to do with our choice of Super Powers. They ranged from wanting to understand every language spoken to knowing what animals think. One member even wanted to be able to ZAP everyone so they would feel instant joy! That's a Super Power, all right!

We were invited to choose whatever animal we'd be. This was interesting because every choice made by one of the incarcerated fellows indicated their desire for freedom: birds, animals high on the food chain, ocean creatures... FYI, Mother Connie chose the elephant, where size would not matter! grin

The gales of laughter that got the attention of the officer on duty were from the question of favorite movies and quotes from them. These guys have spent considerable time watching movies and have seen the same ones repeatedly. They cracked one another up with their comical impressions of the actors and loudly rehashing the story lines. Okay, I admit it: we were a rowdy crowd.

After all the laughter had diminished we got very serious over what motto we choose for living our lives. The serious tone indicated this was not something the guys took lightly. Every member in that circle, it seemed to me, is making a concerted effort to live his best life and be his best self. They all seem to understand that they would not be behind bars if they had paid close attention to those kinds of details earlier in their life's journey.

These men are sons and brothers; fathers and husbands; uncles and nephews - even neighbors who made terrible and foolish choices, resulting in dire tragedies. Now they are paying their debts to society and doing all in their power to rise above their circumstances and learn from their mistakes. In that circle, they were spiritual beings living human lives.

Here is my challenge to YOU, dear reader: What is the motto YOU choose to live by? What animal would YOU be if you could? And what is YOUR favorite movie? Why? Can you quote something from it? And finally, Would YOU be interested in joining Toastmasters International?

Love is a great healer; which reminds me that Valentine's Day will be here soon. Are you living on a dime and wondering how to make the day special for people you love? Here is a NO COST IDEA for you: JUST CLICK ON THESE WORDS---> Living On a Dime.

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Startled by this Discovery?

2011-02-07T15:33:00.001-06:00


Einstein was a great thinker who made many discoveries...

Have you discovered anything exciting recently? What have you been thinking?

WHAT you think is important to your well being, according to Dr. Bruce Lipton. Dr. Lipton is a leader in quantum physics and cellular biology. He was taught that just as Darwin believed, we all are programmed by our DNA and that programming cannot be changed. He believed it was set in stone, as it were. It seemed as if we all were "victimized" by our very own biology!

Dr. Lipton was as surprised as anyone when he discovered that there are genes attached to our cells called 'epigenes'. These little wonders seem to change how our genes are expressed, which, in turn, changes our cells. The good doctor discovered that our DNA responds to signals outside our cells. These signals are produced by our very own emotions, beliefs, thoughts, and even our senses! We are literally products of our own environment! This discovery makes for very good news!

SIDEBAR: This explains how both my parents had glaucoma and I have no sign of any such thing. My epigenes got that memo, thank goodness and my body's ability to be healthy! END SIDEBAR.

This would also explain the "spontaneous remission" of disease referred to by medical people whenever a patient presents with symptoms that are no longer present. For my own part, I find it amusing that some in the medical field may not accept that this could be the result of prayer, but that's another whole blog post.

It is estimated that some 70% of peoples' thoughts are negative. Oh, dear. That can't be good for sending memos to epigenes. What's a person to DO?

You know what Mother Connie will recommend, don't you? You see it coming, right? Yes. Of course. By using The Healing Codes you can help your body switch on its own healing mechanisms! Energy Healing is the alternative health care that is sweeping the world by storm with wonderful results! With love and truth and healing energy YOUR body's epigenes will GET the memo which can eradicate pesky symptoms and allow you to live the life you deserve and desire!

The Energy Medicine of The Healing Codes have been proven to work wonders. Dr. Bruce Lipton found the science of it to be true. Dr. Ben Johnson experienced it when his health made a dramatic and yes, we dare to say it-miraculous-recovery!

CLICK HERE to learn more about The Healing Codes NOW.

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez: Thank Your Lucky Stars!

2011-01-27T14:39:00.000-06:00


Cheese, please?

Can we all agree that people are funny about their food? From infancy on, everyone has their favorite foods and flavors; people like or dislike foods for a variety of reasons. Most of those reasons make no sense to any one but the holder of the reason!

Little kids don't like bread crusts. Some family members 'fight' over the 'heels' of every loaf! Kids are notorious for not liking vegetables; husbands want the food their new brides prepare to look and taste like the husband's mother's dishes. The list goes on and on.

Over lunch today the Normanator and I mused that we are blessed to have food. When we say grace before a meal, WE MEAN IT. Not that our menus are all that outstanding - today we had creamed cabbage with leftover spaghetti and we sopped up the tomato sauce with warm, moist pita bread. As if that were not feast enough, we celebrated the meal with dessert: home canned applesauce, topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon! What could be tastier in the middle of a sunny day?

There was an abundance of bread, so I offered to share it with someone I know is in need. Serious need...turn-your-power-off-tomorrow need. She lit a cigarette and cocked her head as she told me that she doesn't LIKE that kind of bread. She would prefer to have CHEESE.

I do not share this anecdote with you for purposes of judgment; it is meant as an observation. It is a clear picture of what FREE WILL is all about.

But I did take a lesson from this. As I left this needy woman I heard a voice in my head from my past. Someone I admired admonished me to "ALWAYS accept what the Universe offers you, even if it does not look the way you think it should." If you don't accept, you literally turn off the flow of abundance and prosperity that is meant to come to you.

You could think of it the way you think of water pipes. If you turn the faucet off and beg for water, it won't arrive. YOU MUST TURN ON THE FAUCET TO RECEIVE THE WATER. It's the same with our abundance. We need to open the gates and allow it all to come to us.

It's all right. That bread has been crushed into crumbs and it will got into a variety of meals: meat loaves, casseroles, even croutons for soups. I have a notion to invite the needy lady who doesn't like that kind of bread to come by and share a meal...

Meantime I shall thank my lucky stars and count my many blessings.

Would you like to know more about having what you desire? You might know by now that Mother Connie is a huge proponent of The Healing Codes. These codes help to unlock all the information carried in one's heart. The heart knows the truth about the body, mind, spirit and soul. By utilizing The Healing Codes, the body achieves a new and more peaceful balance. When you are in that good place or zone, you can attract all the abundance you need to carry you through life. CLICK HERE NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Dr. Alex Loyd discovered The Healing Codes because he was desperate to help his wife deal with her long standing depression. She literally transformed her life. She is thanking HER lucky stars and counting HER many blessings, too. I wonder if Mrs. Loyd likes that kind of bread.

CLICK HERE NOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLESSING OF THE HEALING CODES!

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: New Jeans...Smaller Size?

2011-01-26T14:41:00.001-06:00

Looks as if her weight loss program is doing the job for her!

Since it is January, most everyone I know is on some sort of program. Some are eating differently, or taking smaller portions. Others are meeting with groups of like minded folks who want to slim their silhouettes; still others have been browsing the self help books of their favorite book shops to find THE ANSWER to their downsizing project. Is it diet? Is it exercise? Is it even POSSIBLE?

Personally, I've been 33 so many times that my size really is the most insignificant to me ever. Time was when I obsessed over the size of my waistline. It just isn't one of my priorities any more. I'm far more interested in being HEALTHY and FIT than what I look like in a swimsuit.

WHO AM I KIDDING? Where would I WEAR a swimsuit? It's January, remember? grin

There is a program that piqued my interest, though. One of my associates popped up on one of the social networking sites...he looked all buff and muscular and I was curious how he managed to make the metamorphosis from very thin to all healthy looking and fit as a fiddle in a very short time. He declared it was "Fearless 45!"

Here's what I found out: He spent 45 days with a program designed to help him GAIN weight!

SAY WHAT?! I thought the subject was WEIGHT LOSS!

Well, you just have to see for yourself, boys and girls. You take a look and then make up your own mind. As lazy as I am, I'm really tempted to GO for it!

Here's where to find the straight skinny. Uh, I mean the 411:

CLICK HERE NOW

Oh...just a word of caution: This is a program that is FEARLESS. It's nothing to toy with because it gets good results. Scope it out.

You are really going to love this if you would like to have new jeans in a smaller size!

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Didja Miss Me?

2011-01-24T14:27:00.000-06:00

Well, here is Mother Connie. She SEZ her rotator cuff is torn but it has not impaired her ability to put three squares on the table day after day...

The saying goes, "From sun to sun, woman's work is never done."

That rings true, doesn't it? Those of us who cook, cook no matter what. Those of us who are parents, take care of our children, in every case. And even when someone's rotator cuff behaves badly, there are meals to cook and blog posts to make. Pass the aspirin, please.

If you have passed by this page and found the same old post day after day, it's because Mother Connie been "indisposed" but it has not prevented her from cooking! Or delivering the Lincoln Journal Star! I must admit it has inhibited her sleep time!

When you have been 33 as many times as Mother has, well, muscles and joints may become a bit on the creaky order. Add to that an injury from a traumatic fall - and all that cooking - and you have the perfect formula for how NOT to get things done. Particularly when you ALMOST fall again and your rotator cuff rebels in screaming technicolor.

My dear high school pal, Sheila, offered to come and teach me how to be left handed but I guess her travel plans have fallen through. Meantime, I am becoming more proficient at compensating. A sense of humor is an advantage, too!

Oh, there are the endless hot packs, the pile of pillows to get a good night's rest, and all that aspirin. But the real relief is coming from-you guessed it-The Healing Codes.

It seems to me that my heart knows the truth of why I fell and what I'm to learn from all the drama and aftermath. Unfortunately I have not been enlightened as yet, so I am performing those Healing Codes FAITHFULLY and with good and steady results.

Cooking is one of my favorite things. The Healing Codes are favorites of mine, too.

Is it any wonder I love my life so?

Learn more about The Healing Codes by clicking on these words now.

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: GOOD GRIEF!

2011-01-07T15:48:00.000-06:00

Good Grief, McGraw!

All the medical news that's hit the airwaves and my eardrums has gotten on my LAST NERVE!

PEOPLE! We have GOT to start thinking outside the box! Once and for all, we need to think for OURSELVES!

Here's the thing: There are "public service" ads...

SIDEBAR: public service, my hind foot! END SIDEBAR

...touting the efficacy of DOUBLE VACCINATIONS for whooping cough FOR BABIES!

There are ads all over creation for vaccines for shingles and "other adult diseases."

Mother Connie is not able to understand WHY this is. Why must the public be bombarded and pelted with all this fear mongering? Why can't we all just realize that good health does not result from a medical appointment, the stick of a needle OR TWO, and it is not accomplished because we take prescription drugs, replete with all their ugly and unwanted side effects?

There is also the small matter of FLUORIDE. I went to the drug store recently to see about tooth paste. Personally, I choose to use ToothSoap, but this purchase was for someone else. Just out of curiosity, I looked at the labels of every brand of tooth paste offered. VIRTUALLY NONE WAS WITHOUT FLUORIDE.

Here's why that's a problem: Fluoride, which is highly toxic, has been shown to cause mental retardation. But when flavoring is added to make it more palatable and catchy ads are placed in shiny magazine pages and clutter the air waves, people seem to flock to get the brighteners for their pearly whites...and BESIDES, IT IS CHEAP. Sigh. Long sigh.

It's very simple, folks. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits! Get organic if it's available! Do not overeat! Get some exercise! Take good nutritional supplements! Sleep enough to feel rested and refreshed! Drink plenty of pure water! Think good thoughts! Be good to others; furthermore, be good to yourself! Participate in activities that are meaningful to YOU and surround yourself with people you love! Brush your teeth after every meal, but not with fluoride! Don't fall for the stories that abound about how you NEED this pill or that formula.

We all would be well advised to think outside the box. Don't follow the herd; think for yourself and intend to be well and happy. Pay no mind to those ridiculous "public service" announcements and you'll be the better for it!

Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez: Listen to George?

2011-01-03T14:07:00.000-06:00


This is pretty much all that's left of our stored goods!

George Carlin had it right:

We have promised ourselves we will spend 15 minutes a day EVERY DAY, dealing with our STUFF, until it is absorbed into the household and we have room to park our vehicles IN THE GARAGE. Wow, what a concept!

If you tend toward hoarding or if you procrastinate about getting shed of things you no longer love or things that no longer serve you...OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THAT...they need to hear what George says. He tells it like it is. Never mind the few bad words he throws in. The point he makes is that we all have too much stuff!

Having things is not wrong. Having too many things, though, can be a problem.

Do you buy things and then suffer guilt pangs? Do you give gifts in the hope of gaining friends or someone's approval? Do you anguish over money issues? Has the quality of your sleep been impaired because you worried about your belongings? Has your health spiraled downward on account of paying for all those things you thought you could not live without? Did your relationship with someone dissolve over money issues?

Do NOT despair. Make a plan to spend 15 minutes a day every day until you have managed that clutter and over supply of material goods. Stick with it until you have reached your goal. And do check out The Healing Codes because they take up hardly any room at all and once you LEARN the protocol, you can pass along the information to people who matter to you.

Bruce Lipton, Dr. Alex Loyd and Dr. Ben Johnson have dedicated their lives to the concepts and principles that make up The Healing Codes. They have helped LEGIONS of people, including themselves and the people they love most. The science behind The Healing Codes is sound. The results are real. See for yourself: GO HERE NOW.

Oh, and by the way, after you have wrestled all your stuff and have it under control please follow this one rule: If something comes INTO the house-garage, tool shed, whatever-something must GO OUT. It keep the balance and permanently reduces stress! Great strategy, isn't it?

Connie Baum

Mother Connie Sez: Tools of the Trade?

2010-12-14T15:42:00.000-06:00

Every craftsman has tools...

Every craftsman has tools for his work. The barber has his clippers; the carpenter uses a power saw; even the baker has special pans.

Rachel Ray, well known for putting a meal together in 30 minutes, has a garbage bowl for trash, bits of waste, and peelings. If you ever saw Chef Anne Burrell cook like the restaurant chef she is, you know she has a bowl on her work table for "stuff" and she calls it her "Thank You For Coming Bowl."

Just for fun, let's imagine that we have a problem we don't like. Let's say the problem is that there are bird droppings on the window. We wash the window and we thank the birds for coming but we invite them to leave because bird droppings do not serve us. WHO NEEDS BIRD DROPPINGS, ANYWAY?

So perhaps it's possible to borrow that concept and have a private conversation with our bodies. We could thank them for being well and operating efficiently. When we have a runny nose, we might blow our snouts and say, "Thank you for coming, but all that does not serve me may now leave."

The same might be true with hives or an itchy big toe, just to use other examples: " Thank you for coming but all that does not serve me may now go away. "

Let's say the problem is not IN our BODY; the problem is cash. Or lack thereof. The result might be shame, embarrassment, sorrow, grief, anger, you name it. So we thank the feeling for coming but since it does not serve us we ask it to leave so that makes room for the MONEY.

There are many tools for all sorts of assistance in our lives. One tool we use often is PRAYER. To my way of thinking it was probably the FIRST tool of which we availed ourselves. Another tool might be The Healing Codes. They work as an adjunct to any other modality to care to use. It's just another tool. After all, the barber, the carpenter, the baker each have more than one tool to get their work done. And Rachel and Chef Anne could never manage their workload with only one bowl used for things that do not serve them!

What do you have in YOUR life that is not serving you? Might there be false beliefs? Is there an illness? What about issues of unsatisfying relationships? If your life isn't working the way you'd prefer, you may just need to reach for another tool from the Toolbox of Life. Check this out, won't you? It could mean the difference between a life that's miserable or a life that really works well! CLICK HERE NOW.

Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post. Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated. Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline. Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez: Have YOU Cracked The Code?

2010-12-10T11:09:00.001-06:00

Every so often a person needs a day off. Call it a mental health day; call it a personal day; name it whatever you like. Mother Connie gave herself permission this week to take the whole day and use it as she pleased. It was a "leave-your-jammies-on-and-eat-whatever-you-like-whenever-you-like" kind of day. In this household, especially so close to Christmas, that is indeed a rare event!

The entire day was spent poring over and devouring the new book I received from a very close friend. "The Healing Code" by Alex Loyd, M.D. and Dr. Ben Johnson.

Energy Medicine and The Healing Codes have been a big part of my life, and the lives of those close to me, for some time now. It's been fascinating from the get-go and I have seen first hand the results that can be produced without toxic treatment or medication. I did not really anticipate any great revelation to come from reading this latest offering; I simply wanted to immerse myself in the philosophy because it feels all warm and safe and cozy--like putting on warm slippers and a soft, fluffy robe when you get up on a cold winter morning!

The book did not disappoint. There were many concrete examples woven through the entire volume that helped to cement my understanding of how and why the codes work. They just DO. The body, as I have mentioned in previous posts, knows how to heal itself. There is no deficiency of psychotropic drug in a body that's unwell. There is no lack of antibiotic. There is no low count of joint compound. No! REALLY! There IS, however, a plethora of untruths, incorrect perceptions, false notions and wild imaginings that have no basis in fact. When these falsehoods are removed, lovingly, and in truth, the body can do what our Creator has designed it to do: Be whole, healthy and happy! How great is THAT?

Do YOU feel as well as you'd like to feel or could you use a burst of energy? Is YOUR LIFE satisfying to you or do you yearn for more in terms of relationships? Do YOU feel you are achieving what you set out to do or are you wishing things could be better? Are YOU depressed or do you feel joy in every day? Maybe it's time for you to take a serious look at Energy Medicine.

Mother Connie is giving YOU permission-just as she gave herself permission to take a day off-to visit the links offered throughout this post. Check out the book, the website, the wonderful success stories of lives that have been healed by cracking the code.

Please. You know you deserve it.

Connie Baum

The Healing Code

Mother Connie Sez: Whaddya MEAN, 'No Salt'?

2010-12-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

Does this look like a restricted area to you?

There has been a great deal of hand wringing and gnashing of teeth in the past couple of days. There have been questions, loud discussion and plenty of pure disgust to go around.

The Big To Do surrounded a 'date' with the cardio guy.

Remember when Mother Connie's heart turned cartwheels? Following that EXPENSIVE episode it was determined that some changes were in order. After ALL, when you have been 33 as many times as this bodacious, bawdy ole broad, you need to take a few precautions.

Ever since The Episode, your humble blogger has been getting adequate sleep. She has been faithful to eat wisely and well without exception. She makes sure to get the correct amount of water and exercise each day. The Healing Codes are an integral part of her routine. She increased her intake, after much research, of certain minerals. She reduced stress where it was possible to do so. And let's not forget about Renita's magic purple powder. It was the star of the show, after all. The upshot of this regimen was that Mother Connie's heart no longer did the acrobatic act; she felt 100% better; she was even able to run that 2 AM paper route every single night.

So when the traditional medical specialist and his highly trained nurse learned that Mother Connie had not even filled their prescription for medicine with draconian side effects, they felt insulted and betrayed.

They must not have understood that Mother Connie had NO deficiency of pharmaceuticals. I dunno how they missed that.

No. Now they were sure that cholesterol is the new enemy and it must be fought with their Rx. They insist salt is a no-no and that blood pressure checks must be taken every day. Mind you, this in spite of the fact that there was ever any indication that cholesterol lurks in the veins of the woman whose heart turned cartwheels and somersaults. As a matter of fact, no blood was drawn and a stethoscope was never put to my chest. All of which was quite fine; their tests are too invasive and too pricey for my taste and budget anyhow.

Here's my complaint: Why not look at the fact there are NO SYMPTOMS? Why not be glad the patient is a FREE THINKING, FREE SPIRIT? Why not be open to learning about different, better ways of approaching health and wellness?

Can you even FATHOM what they'd have done if I'd told them about Energy Medicine? I would have told them but they were not the least bit interested. That's really sad, when you think about it because Energy Medicine would decrease the costs of health care immensely and a great many people would benefit tremendously.

Do you yearn to know about healing in an affordable way? Could you enjoy these holidays more if you felt better? Would you be more content if you did not feel so stressed? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions or if you are just curious, please CLICK HERE NOW for information that will improve YOUR life and the lives of those you love best.

Connie Baum