I do not like roller coasters. I look at them and see this mess.  I feel like I am in this mess when I have been on a roller coaster. I have felt nauseous and unstable when I have come off a roller coaster. They frighten me to my core!

I found a picture that fit how I felt about roller coasters.  I noticed something in the picture. It does not have an ending outside the mess. It has an ending in the middle of chaos, and there is no evidence the boxes would stop there or go off the track completely.  I began to think of life in this picture. 

Our lives can feel like a roller coaster. Our lives can feel like they will never come out of the chaos, or we feel like our lives will end in the middle of the chaos. 

Peace and Joy can be in the middle of the chaos.  Peace and Joy can turn the loop-d-loops into a calmer track.  The word for Peace is shâlôm, meaning rest, safe and well.  The words for joy are chedvâh and chara, meaning rejoicing and calm. The word for Grace is charis. The word for Thanksgiving is Eucharisteo meaning giving thanks in everything.

How can all of that be in the middle of chaos, and turn the chaos into a calmer track? A few quotes from one of my favorite authors, Ann Voskamp, in her book One Thousand Gifts, will explain my belief.  “Can we really expect joy all the time? I know it well after a day smattered with rowdiness and worn a bit ragged with bickering, that I may feel disappointment and the despair may flood high, but to give thanks is an action and rejoice is a verb and these are not mere pulsing emotions. While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.” “Only self can kill joy. I’m the only one doing this to me.” “The demanding of my own will is the singular force that smothers out joy—nothing else.” EUCHARISTEO. Dying to self-demands that I might gratefully and humbly receive the better, the only things that a good God gives. Joy means dying, to follow the Messiah to the table of thanksgiving, or “blessed self-forgiveness”. I can let go. You can let go. “My own wild desire to protect my joy at all costs is the exact force that kills my joy. Flames need oxygen to light. Flames need a bit of wind. The theology’s putting on skin. All light seen is light from the past and light now old from the sun streams through the window, glints off the glass shards. Broken glass ignites in the light and there it is, the secret of joy’s flame: humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control…let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His allowed trials, oxygen for joy’s fire. Leave your hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee…whisper thanks. The picture below is the line coming out of the chaos.

I would like to encourage you to get on board and take time to go through this series every day for the next few days. Your back will thank you, your entire body will thank you.

https://faithfulworkouts.com/healthy-back/#Session%201Get Started

Healthy Back Series

So many struggle with back pain. That doesn’t have to be you.

This page has all your resources for the Healthy Back Series.

Why you need this Healthy Back Series

Millions struggle with chronic back pain. Sadly, they often turn to surgery which doesn’t provide the relief they need.

Session 1: Common Everyday Causes of Back Pain

Common reasons for back pain and how to avoid them.

Session 2: Back Strength

If you want to eliminate or prevent back pain, one of the most important things you can do is have a strong core.

These exercises are focused on core strength. Try to do these multiple times a week

Session 3: Back Stretches

One of the main reasons that we experience back pain is due to tight muscles. So much of our day is spent sitting which causes us to feel stiff and achy.

Spend time each day stretching your muscles and you will feel so much better!

Session 4: Range Of Motion and Foam Rolling

As we age we tend to lose range of motion in our joints. This causes us to have pain and can contribute to injuries. Doing daily movements that use full range of movement are important.

In addition, using a foam roller is a great way to get rid of “knots” and also help with range of motion.

Session 5: What you Eat and Think

Inflammation in our bodies is a big contributor to many chronic illnesses. It also impacts the pain we feel in our joints. What you eat and stress are common factors impacting inflammation.

If you want to live with greater health and less pain than you need to work on controlling the inflammation in your body.

“Each page of my life seems to be a different life
altogether. Each day seems to be as if I am beginning
again; and, yet, it all seems to overlap and piece
together at the same time.”

Print and E book ready for purchase

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LOTS OF INFORMATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS/CLASSES

Hello everyone

It has been a while since I mailed out a newsletter. I have a lot of information to pass along to you.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  😊

BOOK

I have a book on the market.  Yes! it is finally completed.  I would love you to purchase a copy, and pass on the information to others.  I am including the link here.  Weeds: A Health Journey of Struggle, Discovery, and Healing with the Master Gardener Kindle Edition We have but one body for our entire lives. I made a commitment long ago to take exceptional care of my body because I did not want to become another statistic in the great line of those before me. Then alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) seeded itself in me, causing struggle and strife. I refused to let it take root. This book is about the journey how the Almighty Father, the Master Gardener, gave me the tools to discover, heal, and root out many fears, including AGS.

Watch for a print version on Amazon also.  We had a bit of a delay, but It will be up in the next week or so. 

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STRETCHING

I am opening a stretch class. I have two people signed up already.  The class begins Wednesday, May 17, at 8:00 am (we can move it to 9 am if that is better for everyone). I will begin with one a week, and move to two a week when we get going and I have a good amount of people.  I need a lot of help to spread the word.  Please pass this on to everyone. NEVER guess who might want to and who might not; You never know who has been thinking about it and It will surprise you, so please tell everyone.  Thank you.   (if you have Facebook, share my web page and it will have the info, easy to pass on to a lot of people at once).  Web page link for Natural Helping Hands  and link for Facebook page for Natural Helping Hands   $45 per month.  SUPER GOOD DEAL. Contact me to sign up. 

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Exercise, Workouts, and Resources for education

One of the best places to get a great workout and do it at your leisure or with a group, is at Faithful Workouts.  Check them out for all your stretching, core, leg, and more workouts. You will also get food and spiritual encouragement advice.  I have used this group for many years. I will be going on a retreat with Michelle and others in the autumn.  I love this group. You will love it also.

ONE MORE THING: there is a great program beginning called Sugar challenge. I did it in the past and it really works! It will help you to find your issue with sugar, and tackle it.  you will have so much help and support.  Go for it. Added Sugar and Bread/carbs are the greatest threat to diet, weight loss, and other health related issues.

While we are on the subject of good resources: IIN is a great place to take a jump into learning, for yourself, family and friends.  I have been though the courses many years ago; it is worth the time and money.  You will get the best of the best out there. You will have all you need, and the overwhelming anxiety of “loads of information out on the internet” will be gone, with this one program.  I assure you that it will change your life!   Link for IIN is here.

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SWIM Aerobics (all ages and abilities)

I am official AEA instructor for water aerobics. Is it fun, and it is one of the best ways to work out, especially with limited abilities, post trauma, and other things of that nature.  Talk to me about getting a class going on Petit Jean Mountain.  I plan to try a class on Thursdays or Fridays, at noon when the pool opens, to avoid the large crowds. I would have an hour instruction.  $6 per session/person.  Contact me to sign up. 

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I really need reviews on the google and on my web page.  Would you please take a few minutes, and it really is just a few minutes, to write a 5 star review about your services with me.  It will help me to stay on top of the search bar for our area.  BE as detailed as you feel you want to be.  Health coaching, massage, and other services you have had with me, can be placed on the review.  REVIEWS for Natural Helping Hands

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I am starting up Rumble again.  Thursday evenings live, 7 pm Central time.  Got to the link here. Rumble for Natural Helping Hands   I will speak about 15-30 minutes on health subjects, herbs, and massage techniques; It will be things not usually spoken about. 

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Thank you for your support and referrals.  You are important. 

Faith Family Freedom Fitness Wellness  

Jeana Anderson, C.N.H.P., MMT, CLT, CEIM, CBS

Natural Helping Hands, LLC

www.naturalhelp.net

jeana@besmiley.com

501-690-3306 (I-phone)

This message is one I need to share here. It is a great low impact, total body workout, but ALSO a superb message all the way through about widows and widowers.

An article from Got Questions, said, “widows are often grouped with vulnerable members of society such as the fatherless, aliens, and the poor (Deuteronomy 14:29; 16:11; 24:20; 26:12). The Bible says widows are to be treated with honor and compassion and offered protection so that no one takes advantage of them.” The article goes on to say, “God recognized the widow’s plight and rose to her defense: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” (Psalm 68:5). A person who denied justice to a widow was cursed by God: “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow” (Deuteronomy 27:19). Laws and special provisions were put in place to safeguard widows against neglect and abuse.”

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their ill-treatment of widows (Mark 12:40).

Stay connected. Call, text, message, often.

Say you are sorry for our loss.

Call and ask specifically, “Can we go for a walk together?” “Would you like me to take the kids to the park?”

Refer to spouse’s acts or words – serious or humorous.

Invite them to anything, as if they were not widows/widowers. Include them in your activities just as you did before the spouse was no longer there.

Accept that we they are where they are.