16 of 2007
This will be the last newsletter for 2007 and what a year, with me spending most of my time away from my home and family it has been tough but very uplifting in that I have met so many wonderful people whose lives have changed dramatically and who in turn have changed my life dramatically.
One thing I have seen in my half century of living is that the only thing we can be sure of is change. Things have changed a lot for us this year and although a bit scary at times it has been mentally and spiritually challenging. It appears that some people have been offended by the spiritual changes in us in the last newsletter when I mentioned Mark’s knee being healed. Maybe in my rush to share the wonderful news I did not explain as well as I could have, but either way, the issue was and is one of ‘gratitude’. Having an attitude of gratitude (I know that sounds so Oprah, but I don’t know how else to put it so briefly) can dramatically change your life. In the book of Thessalonians Paul says that it is the “will of God” to give thanks in all circumstances and we have personally seen huge changes both physically and spiritually in our lives when we consciously make the choice to do this. Try it for yourself, what have you to lose?
Mark and I would like to wish you all a blessed time in December as you spend time with friends and family and remember why we actually celebrate at this time of the year. In my quest to make sense of the December holidays, I have spent this morning reading and found some amazing information. With all the tinsel and the lights and the music it seems we have lost touch with the spiritual core. And man, being in the US is like living in a movie, everywhere you go there is the most amazing music – seems like the retailers choose the best quality speakers so just walking across the car park you feel like you are in a scene from a movie; something like Sleepless in Seattle, with all those wonderful ‘golden oldies’ playing as you step lightly across the tarmac. And the lights! I have never seen so many lights on and around homes in my life!
Anyway in back to the research part...
As I was researching the prophecies about Jesus’ birth and the meaning of Bethlehem (house of bread) and the reason for that place as the birth place (the same place King David was anointed and tended sheep as a youth) I stumbled across the meaning of Hanukkah, which is celebrated at the same time of the year by the Jewish community.
It appears that this festival is celebrated for 8 days from the 25th day of Kislev (December) to commemorate the cleansing and rededication of the temple. In fact the one reference book refers to it as the cleansing of the temple from ‘pollution’.
So in thinking about the our bodies being the “temple of the Holy Spirit” I thought how awesome it would be to have our feast on the 25th and then spend the next 7 days cleansing and rededicating our bodies so that we enter the New Year with a healthy mind, body and spirit! Anyway, just think about it. Mark and I are going to light a candle every day for 8 days from the 25 Dec to 1 Jan (also our 31st wedding anniversary) and ask God to give us clear direction for His calling and purpose in our lives. If you would like to join us during this time, please do and feel free to communicate with us about your outcome.
We would like to give each of you a gift that will change your life dramatically and permanently, so we are giving each of you a “100 Days to Health” program free that will help to direct and motivate you and to understand and take responsibility for your health. For 3 years Mark & I have worked on this program and it has consumed every spare moment of our time. So if you would like a day by day program that helps you make better choices while learning more about your body click here www.100daystohealth.com . This program will be free up to the 15 January and then we will have to charge for it s sign up as soon as you can. You will be sent a regular weekly program for 100 days and receive a daily motivating tip from me in your mail box, to help keep you on track. So sign up before that date or you will have to pay at least $50 or R300 for 1 year’s access and use of the program.
Some good news is that our Organic salts or seasonings are now available in the USA by mail order just contact Merrily Bright on merrilybright@yahoo.com Merrily will also be coordinating all my talks in the USA for 2008 so contact her on that address too. Or order from eBay by clicking here http://cgi.ebay.com/6-ORGANIC-Mary-Anns-Garlic-Herb-Seasoning-Salts-set_W0QQitemZ220182355792QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14314QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118
Mary-Ann’s organic salts
Mary-Ann’s Herb salt – ideal for all foods and dishes from salads, vegetables, chicken and fish, casseroles, soups etc. This salt makes even a tired lettuce leaf come alive and taste delicious.
Mary-Ann’s Garlic and Herb – for those of you who enjoy the flavour of garlic with a subtle hint of herbs but don’t want to be over-powering your friends and family with garlic odour, this salt is for you. Ideal in any Mediterranean dishes, essential when making humus, Mary-Ann’s chilli pesto and tasty on almost anything.
Mary-Ann’s Seasoning salt – this is Mary-Ann’s secret ingredient for making any mushrooms taste like a gourmet meal. Try the marinated mushroom recipe in her recipe books and the broccoli and avocado salad or the garbanzo bean, cabbage and avocado salad with this. In fact any cruciferous vegetable tastes awesome with this salt as does spinach. Also great for a barbecue seasoning.
Then 3 great new products have been released by the Aim company (order directly from them at the wholesale price but do so on ASAP so that you have it by Christmas day (contact any of the natural Health consultants at www.mary-anns.com ) and good timing too for Holiday gifts. They have a great shaving cream, really fresh, but more than that both Mark and I are seriously impressed with it. It is very natural and best of all stays on your legs (or chin) so that you don’t have to keep re-applying so it lasts forever! Unlike gel and foam-style shave creams, it contains a powerful blend of antioxidants, polyphenols and nutrients in a non-lathering cream. The cream creates a protective layer shielding the skin from cuts and nicks while ensuring a close, clean shave. These nutrients are from plant extracts such as white and green teas, sandalwood, cork tree bark extract, and green barley juice powder. Yup you got that right you are now shaving in barley grass juice!
Then they have a gorgeous rich body butter which is provides the highest level of moisturizing to areas of the skin that tend to dry out more quickly like arms, elbows, legs, knees, and feet. This stuff is good enough to eat (well almost) as it combines Shea butter, cocoa and mango butter as well as glycerine, jojoba, aloe, and safflower oil. And is not sticky and smells nicer than the olive oil I was using! (has pomegranate and grapefruit smell like the other 2 new products) This has been amazing as Mark and I have been sitting in a Jacuzzi at our friend’s home here in San Juan Capistrano in California and the Jacuzzi is so drying on our skins, but we are not prepared to stop as it is so relaxing and warm and in this freezing cold winter here in California we cannot miss a day. So we are both using the Shea body butter from Aim.
Then there is the “shea you love me” bar soap which is completely vegetable-derived and combines shea butter and glycerine. Shea butter’s is high in vitamins A, E, and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. There are 2 in a pack and they last forever! I like to keep them in my cupboard as a natural freshener for my clothes.
Tips to get you through the holidays
You will not eat as well as you can at this time of the year, accept that and just plan ahead and remember some basic steps
- Always start your cooked meals with raw vegetables, this takes the edge off your appetite and you eat less of the other food.
- If you feel digestive discomfort after a meal, take either Prepzymes (Digestive enzymes from Aim that help your food digest more efficiently) or Florafood (intestinal flora that really work! Also from Aim) Otherwise do you best not to eat proteins and starches at the same meals.
- Herbal Fiberblend is an absolute must during this time as many of you may experience typical Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms after overindulging or eating foods that your body may be intolerant to. These symptoms can range from gas, to diarrhea and constipation al on the same day! This is also from Aim so contact any of the Natural Health consultants on www.mary-anns.com or Melissa on info@mary-anns.com
- Keep having 1 fruit meal a day even in winter in the northern hemisphere, eat as much as you like and include a handful of raw, unsalted nuts
- No matter how late you may sleep, make a point of going for a 20 minute walk every day especially while on holiday, that way you won’t lose all the ground you gained during the year
- If you really overindulge badly, make sure your next meal is just an entire salad or fruit meal. Don’t limit your intake just make sure it is all raw and vegetables or fruit only. If you are really cold make a pot of mixed vegetable soup and have that after your raw food, but no starch, protein or fat at the “correction” meal. The reason for this is that it is easy on the digestive tract and completely alkaline in the body and alkaline foods increase your brain capacity, energy levels and immune function.
- Make sure you have a bottle of filtered or spring water with you and try and drink at least 3 bottles of this especially when your diet is more processed or you drink any alcohol and coffee or tea. A bottle of water can help you recover from headaches and tiredness in minutes.
DVD
This month’s DVD was a special, being “A Day with Mary-Ann” As so many of you nag me to move in with you and cook your meals or ask me how I eat in a day, we decide to send you A day With Mary-Ann so that you can see how I live and eat in a day and get a whole lot of inspiring recipes and tips to get really healthy!
Thought for the week
I appeal to you therefore brethren and beg of you in view of the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy devoted and consecrated and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service and spiritual worship.
Romans 12: 1 Amplified Bible
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you? Whom you received from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. So then honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
1.Corinthians 6: 19