Ouch!

After going to the chiropractor the last 2 days I am now sitting in the lobby at Med Express. My parents are going away for the weekend and I want to give them some piece of mind. My chiro thinks my intense back pain could be from my right kidney so we're just checking here. Oh, my turn gotta go

Jodi

Words

Since my cutie pie here isn't talking much at 20 months I decided to put together a list of the words he does say to get some perspective. I also need to remember none of them talked much then they jumped into complete sentences.
He says-
Mama- this is a new one...finally
Dada
Poop- and pats his diaper
Cooka- for cookie and most foods
Doggy
Ouch-as he scratches or pinches
Shoe
Woah
Tea-for drinks
Bubble
Cues-for Blues Clues
He dances whenever he hears something that resembles a beat so I know he can hear fine He's just not forming his words so good yet and that wouldn't bother me such but it os infuriating him. Poor Lil guy.

No Poo video

I'm going no poo... Shampoo that is

I have thin oily hair that holds no style so I'm giving this a try plus it's really cheap and healthy.  I didn't do the exact method below I mixed my water and baking soda in an empty Biokleen dishwashing liquid container.  I did 1 tablespoon per 1 cup water.  I saw that  on another blog and I will try to send a link to it later.  I'll let ya know how it goes 

Basics on the no poo method from naturemoms.com

How to No 'Poo

Dissolve about 1 tablespoon of baking soda in just enough water to make a paste. Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute. 

In order to stimulate blood flow, clean your pores and get off built up grime, use your finger tips to scrub your scalp. Start by making a circle on the top of your head in the area you'd wear a crown. Focus on the back of this circle to begin with. Next, fill in the circle. This is where your part will be; grease here affects the way your hair looks. Trace while still scrubbing with your fingertips around the bottom edge of the circle. Keep making scrubbing circles underneath each one, drawing lines in circles around your head.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth. After doing this, your scalp will feel alive. Many women swear their hair grows faster after a visit to the salon — it does, and this massage method is why. 

When scrubbing, you're actually rubbing your fingers back and forth in short movements. Be gentle; you don't want to break your hair. Next, pour about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup and add water. (I keep two plastic 12-ounce cups in my shower and just mix when I get in.) After you rinse the baking soda out, pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out. That's all there is to it!

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

Remember, there is a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

• If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help. 
• If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you're applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair. 
• If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Ready to make the change? Sure! Don't be afraid to go no 'poo. You know how to do it! Enjoy the journey – you're on your way to a healthier you!

 

Today's readings

The Scripture Readings

Romans 8:2-13
Matthew 10:16-22

Troparion

Holy Hieromartyr & Wonderworker Tychon of Amathus, Troparion, in Tone I —
A desert dweller, an angel in the flesh,/ and a wonderworker wast thou shown to be,/ O our God-bearing father Tychon,/ for having acquired heavenly gifts through fasting, vigilance, and prayer,/ thou dost heal the infirm,/ and the souls of those who have recourse to thee with faith./ Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength!/ Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee!// Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!

Kontakion, Tone III, "Today the virgin..." —
Persevering in the struggle of the love of God, O holy one,/ from on high thou didst receive the power of the Comforter/ to cast down the idols of falsehood,/ to save men, to cast out demons and to heal sickness.// Wherefore, we honor thee as a friend of God, O blessed Tychon.

Jodi

Blessed Mother .....

Has a new home with us. We found her in someones trash.

First Zucchini

Blueberries and Strawberries

First Tomato

Cuties!

The Kursk Znamenie (Sign) Icon of the Mother of God

Commemorated on on the 9th Friday of Pascha, September 8, November 27, March 8

      The Kursk Znamenie (Sign) Icon of the Mother of God – is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church. In the XIII Century during the time of the Tatar invasion, when all the Russian realm was put to the extremest tribulation, the city of Kursk, ravaged by the Horde of Batu, fell into desolation. One day in the environs of the city an hunter noticed the ancient icon, lying on a root face downwards to the ground. The hunter lifted it and saw that the image of the icon was similar to the Novgorod "Znamenie" Icon. With the appearance of this icon immediately there appeared its first miracle. Just as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, right then, at that place where the icon lay, gushed up strongly a spring of pure water. This occurred on 8 September 1259. The hunter decided not to leave the icon in the forest and settled on as a resting place an ancient small chapel, in which he put the newly-appeared image of the Mother of God. Soon inhabitants of the city of Ryl'a heard about this, and being in location not far away, they began to visit the place of the appearance for venerating the new holy image.

      They transferred the icon to Ryl'a and put it in a new church in honour of the Nativity of the MostHoly Mother of God. But the icon did not long remain there. It disappeared and returned to its former place of appearance. The inhabitants of Ryl'a repeatedly took it and carried it to the city, but the icon incomprehensibly returned to its former place. Everyone then realised, that the Mother of God preferred the place of appearance of Her Image. The especial help granted by the Mother of God through this icon is bound up with important events in Russian history: with the war of liberation of the Russian nation during the time of the Polish-Lithuanian incursion in 1612, and the 1812 Fatherland war. From the icon several copies were made, which also were glorified.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Playing before surgery

Me and the girls waiting for the show to start

The girls at the concert

We has an awesome time at the Taylor Swift concert. I'm so happy I got to experience my girls First concert with them and our best friends since they were just tiny little girls. They are all growing up to be beautiful young ladies. We love you Ruffings!

Upon the "Seven-Arrow" ("Semistrel'na") Icon of the Mother of God

      Upon the "Seven-Arrow" ("Semistrel'na") Icon of the Mother of God is depicted a piercing by seven arrows. For a long time the icon was situated at the bell-tower stairway entrance of a church in honour of the Apostle John the Theologian (near Vologda). Turned face downwards, they mistook the icon for an ordinary board along which they walked, until a cripple in the city of Kadnikova had a vision; that he would receive healing after a prayer before this icon. They served a molieben before the discovered icon, after which the sick one became well. The icon was especially glorified in 1830 during the time of a cholera epidemic at Vologda.

 

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

The Igorevsk Icon of the Mother of God

Commemorated on June 5

      The Igorevsk Icon of the Mother of God, in front of which was praying, during the last moments of his life, the holy Passion-Bearer GreatPrince of Kiev Igor Ol'govich (+ 19 September 1147), was situated in the chapel of Saint John the Theologian in the Uspensk-Dormition cathedral of the Kievo-Pechersk Lavra. This icon was of old Greek origin, and had an inscription that it belonged to Saint Igor.

We're at the Taylor Swift concert!

Today's readings

The Scripture Readings

Romans 1:18-27
Matthew 5:20-26

The readings for the last two days have been pretty tough.   Very strong worded about how to behave and what is acceptable behavior.   I know a lot of people don't want to hear the part about divorce.  I have been praying for my children and their future spouses since they were conceived.   For our future grandchildren too!