It's a very warm day today... whew! Summer is the time when we like to eat raw the most... there is so much freshly-grown, organic, local (even in our yard) fruits and veggies around, and little energy is expended when the heat is already turned way up (like, who wants to cook when it's muggy and wilty already?). Today we managed two lovely meals... one did involve the toaster, though (sorry, we're not 100% raw) with hemp waffles that we love. We did up a frozen topping that tastes better than any ice cream I've ever eaten (because I'm sensitive to dairy):

3 peeled frozen bananas

1 C. frozen raspberries

1/2 C. organic sunflower seeds

a shot of cold-pressed flax seed oil

1/2 C. water (or less) Securely position the lid on your Vita-Mix and insert the tamper. Start on the Variable Lowest rate and increase to the highest rate, stirring as needed. Flip briefly into the High mode. This is creamy and delightful with the nutty texture of the sunflower seeds. High in omega oils, 0 cholesterol, no processed sugars, no transfats, no dairy. Raw Vegan. Doesn't get much better. *See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 1 here *See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 2 here

I always loved this particular clip from "Fiddler on the Roof" (long before I began to keep Sabbath myself). Seeing Paul Nison this week has been a sort of reminder of my commitment to the Sabbath rest. I wish you a Happy and Restful Sabbath!

Today is our third day of eating with more discipline... trying out what Paul Nison talked about. We have been eating around 8 am in the morning and again at 2 pm in the afternoon. Like other members of the Hippocrates Institute, Paul is BIG on sprouts. I love sprouts as well (especially alfalfa sprouts). That's it-- 2 meals a day. And no sugar. We have been eating some cooked food-- mainly because we have some to "get rid of", but we are eating a lot more greens and feel pretty good. I drink a Green Smoothie in the morning and then have a big salad at 2 pm. Tonight we attended the annual Garden Party in our neighborhood and were asked to bring finger foods. I took along a guacamole-bean dip with a side of salsa and a bunch of crudites. I wasn't particularly craving any of the food there although for some odd reason, the Thai chicken kebobs looked appealing (and here is me, at least vegan I thought-- if not exactly 'raw'). The butter tarts also looked yummy but I felt good for not taking any. We have both been sleeping well and feeling great in the morning. I put on an enormous amount of weight over the winter -- a combination of vegan grazing (eating too much starchy, fatty foods) and not enough exercise. Paul talks about needing to do three different kinds of exercise on a daily basis: 1- Cardiovascular (that would be my rebounding) 2- Balance/Core Exercise (something like Pilates) 3- Stretching Paul himself boxes and does Pilates, uses a chi machine and a rebounder. So, today I rebounded for 10 minutes and had a couple of walks. I'm going to have to work to get more active! I am cold and tired and ready for bed (at 9:36pm). Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible; all things are possible with God."~Mark 10:27 *See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 1 here **See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 3 here

well, a knoll, actually... Last night we heard raw foodist Paul Nison talk about his experiences with raw food healing, and today we had a Bible Study with him on the knoll at Lewis Park. It was a gorgeous day of sun and warmth. He talked about how health is charter by our Creator. He provided lots of Bible quotations and I will talk about this material in the days to come. Ed and I asked for prayer (he offered and many of the participants took the offer up). It was a beautiful experience.

For quite a while I've been subscribed to Paul Nison's newsletter. Tonight we saw and heard him speak, in person. My husband commented that it was the most comprehensive health presentation we have been to.I will talk more about it in days to come. Right now it is necessary to go to bed. Tomorrow night he will be giving a food demo. Ed and I plan to go to the Park tomorrow and hear him speak about health and the scriptures. *See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 2 here *See Paul Nison's Simple Recipes video Part 3 here

If you are interested in doing a 40-day (40 links) e-coaching to discover and activate your Life Purpose, go here and sign up. Here is a terrific article to get you focused on your goals: Gonzales on Goals

I am a Life Purpose Coach, meaning that I can help you find your way from vague wants and niggling needs into a full-blown set of identifiable desires for your life path. Once you have established your Life Purpose you will find that it is easier to say NO to any requests or demands that don't fit that Purpose... you will let go of relationships and jobs that don't fulfill your Purpose... and your life will be imbued with the meaning that you perhaps thought was lost like that second sock that never came out of the dryer with its mate... As a Coach it is incumbent upon me to be pursuing my own Life Purpose, wouldn't you think? Part of my Purpose is to enjoy balance and health, and to share opportunities-- and what I have learned-- with others who desire a similar harmonious life. To this end I practice the following principles: **I recognize that I am a Child of God (along with you, my sister or brother)-- and that while I am helpless to do any real good in my life apart from Christ who nurtures me-- that I am also expected to live out a life modeled upon the Master's own. I look for Christian values/principles in what I hold up as worthy of emulation. **I grew up in a time and place when it was still possible to drink water that wasn't filtered, to eat vegetables that weren't sprayed, and to catch a ride home with a male neighbor, the man whose children I had just babysat for, or any of several uncles-- with no sense of alarm or undue concern about their agenda. I sure would like that sort of 'natural safety' for my granddaughters as they grow up... and I will do my best to protect them by teaching and observing, but really, my greatest satisfaction will come if I know that they are able to make good choices around the food they eat, the company they keep, and the behaviours they 'put out there'. God's loving watch-care, in response to the prayers of their parents and grandparents, will preserve their innocent happiness and wellbeing until they are truly able to make significant moral choices. I have faith. **If you have been following this blog you will know that my husband and I have a commitment to a vegan lifestyle although we are not 100% raw vegan. We are in our late 50s and are not, thank God, suffering from any chronic health concerns. We drink at least a quart (each) of Green Smoothie a day (love it!) and do not take any prescription or pharmaceutical medicines. I publish an ezine (newsletter with recipes for Green Smoothies) called Smoothie Moves that you can subscribe to for free on-line. You are also invited to join our Facebook group called Smoothie Moves-- 35 Delicious Free Smoothie Recipes A Year **We are also big fans of Vita-Mix, the 10-in-one-appliance that whirrs up everything from our daily Smoothies to soups and 'frozen desserts' (whatever you call ice cream that doesn't contain dairy). AND NO BPA in the container!! You can find out more about Vita-Mix by going here to my affiliate site. **I have been involved with Young Living Essential Oils for about six years and love these pure, organic, fragrant little healing molecules. You can read more about them in the Diffusing Life 2 blog, order them from my Diffusing Life site, or come into business with me-- and enjoy the true Sweet Scent of Success! You might also want to subscribe to the Diffusing Life 2 Ezine. **You can also join the Facebook group "Pure Therapeutic Essential Oils and The People Who Use Them" **As the title of this post indicates, I am currently a member of the Holy Tea Club and have had some fascinating experiences shared with me by Club Members who are imbibing this lovely herbal blend of Holy and Blessed Thistle and other healing flora. If you are really really curious and would like to sample the Holy Tea, just drop me a line at di ffusing life @ yahoo. ca (pull all the gaps together) and I make arrangements to get you a sample at a nominal cost. **I currently am exploring the 'missing link' in my desire to live a sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and ethical life that provides an income for me to do my various at-home work and play activities. I now have a corner on delightful non-toxic cleaners, award-winning mineral skin care products, and other personal care products (shampoo, toothpaste). **If you are interested in keeping your own carbon footprint a light one (not having to use fuel to drive to work, not having to buy spiffy-but-expensive work clothes, not having to haul your babes off to be cared for by strangers, not having to sit in fume-laden traffic, not having to acidify your system with direct sales hype) but you want to contribute to your family's finances or retire early, check in here. It is so great to be in business with someone with like-mindedness-- "kindred spirits". I love choosing who I will work with! **I invite you to partner with me if any or all of these ventures seem to fit in with your own particular Life Purpose. May God abundantly bless you, ~Cynthia