How My Day Gets Started!

   I  thought I would write more specifically, about how I start my day with supplements (besides spending time with the Lord, my #1 priority in the morning)...Upon waking, the first thing I do is drink a lot of water. If I exercise first, I'll drink 24-48 oz. of water while I exercise. If I don't exercise first, I'll drink 24-48 oz. of water before I do anything else. Nancy Desjardins, of http://www.healthlady.com/ talks about the importance of hydrating your body properly when you first get up in the morning. This hasn't been easy for me...growing up, I didn't drink water first thing in the morning...I just didn't like it! Now, that I've been drinking water first thing, my body craves it, and that's a good thing!
  The other thing I do most mornings is to take a supplement of "Vitamineral Green" from http://www.healthforce.com/  I can find it in our local health food store. I used to take spirulina by itself, but I've found that "Vitamineral Green," has more vitamins and minerals. Basically, I take this supplement to get the "good stuff" in my body and it also helps to get the "bad stuff" out. "Vitamineral Green" is recommended to take with water, but I don't like it with just water, so I mix about 1 T. in a juice glass of superfood green juice, like "Bolthouse Farms," "Naked Juice" or "Odwalla." My favorite is "Naked Juice," but I usually get "Bolthouse Farms" because it is cheaper. Nancy also recommends that we get enough fiber in our diets, so I also mix in 1-2 T. of ground flax seed (I buy flax seeds in the bulk section of Sprouts Farmers Market and grind it myself in my coffee grinder...it's not used to grind coffee anymore, lol!). Flax seed does not just contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, it also contains Omega-3 essential fatty acids (the "good" fats), as well as Lignans, which have both antioxidants and plant estrogen. Remember, if you take a supplement of Flax seed, you must drink a lot of water, to make up for all the fiber...
  Since I am pregnant, I also take "Supermom" vitamins, which also contain spirulina. I like to purchase them here: http://supermomshealthandwellness.com/catalog.php?item=57&ret=catalog.php . Spirulina also gives you energy and is very good for you! :o)
  These supplements took awhile to get used to, because my body wasn't used to such "good food." Now, I am used to it and I don't like to go a day without w/out these supplements to my daily eating routine. It's also comforting, because if I have a day when I don't eat as I should, at least I got some of the "good stuff" in first thing in the morning, LOL! :o)
  Tell me what you think about these supplements, if you've tried them or if you try them in the future or if there are supplements you take in which you derive great benefit!
Blessings,
Lori

Holistic Nutrition Healthy Lifestyle Natural Health and Wellness

Please listen to Lori's audio interview on this prominent woman's heath site: Holistic Nutrition Healthy Lifestyle Natural Health and Wellness

You look too young to have 10 children!

It's funny to see/hear the reactions people have when they find out how many children we have! Usually, the first comment is "You look too young to have 10 children!" Then, the second one is "You mean, they all came from YOUR body?!?!?" I'm very grateful that my husband and I still look young at my 40 and his 46! :o)
People often ask me about my diet, exercise, etc. So, I thought I would answer some of those questions now. Actually, I will tell you by listing my top 4 priorities for anyone, but because I am pregnant, I'll also talk about what's important for pregnancy.
Tip #1: Spend time with the Lord everyday in prayer and his word...nothing is more important than this. When I neglect my time with the Lord, my day usually is lousy...on days I've spent time with the Lord, my day goes so much more smoothly, because I'm more likely to see people and things from God's eyes, than from my own...need I say more?
Tip #2: Drink lots of water! I have not always drunk lots of water. In fact, for a good portion of my life, Coca-Cola was my preferred drink! I finally weaned myself off of Coke, when I read one of Dr. Mercola's articles about what happends to your body when you drink soft drinks...in fact, soft drinks are #2 on his list for worst foods to eat/drink! Yikes! You can read the article here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/03/10/soda-pop-dangers.aspx
Then, after I got over that addiction, I moved to coffee...now, I'm not one of those people who can drink coffee black...I always said "I have my milk and sugar with a little coffee, lol!" Well, this wasn't so funny, when I realized I really did have an addiction to coffee and sugar! Not to mention, all of the negative side effects of coffee and sugar!
I realized I needed to clean out my system and rid myself of these cravings (addictions). So, I found a natural cleanse last year by Nancy Desjardins (I needed to do a healthy cleanse since I was nursing), http://7daysugarfreediet.com/, and by the end of the 7 days, I was free of my addictions for coffee and sugar, plus I lost 8 lbs.!
I still eat some sugar and coffee occasionally, but not very often. I've replaced most of my sugar with Agave Necter, which is so much better on your sugar, etc.
Water is the perfect drink and if you can drink filtered water, that's even better! Water will keep you from getting dehydrated and is so healthy for all parts of your body...plus, it's cheap! :o) Water has so many other benefits...one of them being curbing your hunger, if you drink a glass before a meal...So, drink LOTS of water!
Tip #3: EXERCISE! It doesn't matter how much, just do a little (or a lot, depending on your energy level) each day! This isn't easy...many days, I have to make myself, but I know that once I've exercised I'm going to feel so much better! It's best for me to exercise first thing in the morning, because it gives me energy for my whole day...plus, I get it over with and don't have the "I've still got to exercise" voice inside my head all day. My favorite form of exercise are T-Tapp fitness, www.t-tapp.com, because it is healthy exercise and anyone can do it and you don't need much space at all! It's great...plus, it's "rehabilitative fitness" and is designed to work your muscles from the inside out...very effective...you can get in shape without having weights and I like that! :o) ***Note: In my pregnancy with baby #9, T-Tapp saved me! I learned the simple tasks of "tucking my tail bone under," having good posture and keeping my feet turned straight (or even pigeon toed, a little) when I walk. Just the simple exercise of keeping my tail bone turned under during pregnancy (while walking, sitting, standing...you name it!), it kept me from having back pain in the last trimester of my pregnancy! I couldn't believe something so simple, could be so powerful! :o) It also helps to firm your tummy and when your pregnant, it's harder to feel your abs, but when you tuck your tailbone under, you can rest assured that your abdominals are also at work, LOL!
Walking is the best exercise for anyone, that almost anyone can do! I can't always walk outside, and I've been doing a Leslie Samsone dvd the last two weeks and I love it! I do the 5-mile dvd and I can do 1 mile a day or 5 miles a day and it's so much fun! When I get tired of listening to the same thing day after day...I do the dvd, while listening to my "Curves Freedom Fitness Music" while I do the dvd and it works out great! :o) http://store.afa.net/p-10000018-curves-freedom-fitness-cd-vol-7.aspx. I love this music, because it's Christian music/lyrics with a perfect beat for exercising to keep you going!
Tip #4: Eat healthily! I know these things seem basic, but they really do work! If I exercise without eating healthy and vice versa...I will have trouble losing weight. But, when I combine them, the pounds come off! I am eating more protein than carboyhydrates, eating the healthy carboyhydrates found in greens and other foods and eating whole grains instead of "white" flours, rice and potatoes. I no longer buy salad dressing because the store-bought kind is filled with perservatives, fillers, etc. Plus, homemade salad dressing is so easy and cheap to make!
Please here me saying this: make your health changes slowly and don't try to do everything at once; otherwise, you'll get discouraged and fail. When you make your changes slowly, you WILL see progress and that's exciting! :o) When you combine all of these things: Having a Quiet Time with the Lord, Drinking water instead of other junk, Exercising and Eating healthy, you will be healthy spiritually, emotionally and physically...I've discovered that I'm the best servant of God, wife and mother when all these things are accomplished. On days when they're not, I forgive myself and start over the next day! :o)

Matcha Green Tea...a life saver (enhancer)!

Matcha Green Tea has really helped improve my health and well-being! Let me tell you how...for the last 14 years, I have had "sinking spells," (for lack of a better term). I believe the spells were brought on when I took birth control pills before my husband and I were married. I would just "zone out" for a minute or two. I could hear and see what was going on around me, but I was unable to respond. It was as if a dark feeling came over me...I don't know how else to explain it. I tried homeopathic medicine to treat my thyroid and adrenals, exercise, etc. Nothing worked until I started drinking Matcha almost a year ago. I realized after drinking Matcha, that my "sinking spells" went away completely! I was so relieved. This was confirmed when I stopped drinking Matcha for a month or so and I had another "sinking spell." Since drinking Matcha again, I have not had any more problems.

I like to drink Matcha mixed with milk and agave nectar, for sweetener. Sometimes I put 1/8-1/4 t. in a warm cup of water and drink it like that (the healthiest way to drink it). Matcha has so many wonderful health benefits! It is a mood enhancer and it has a ton of antioxidants! Cheap Matcha is bitter and not very good. For the most benefits, it's best to get Matcha from Nishio, Japan. It's not cheap, but it's SO worth the cost, because the health benefits are greater and the taste is sweeter. For an extensive look at the benefits of Matcha, please see this link: http://products.mercola.com/green-tea/

An update on the Gordoni family

Here is a quick update of some things going on with our family (More details later):

1. BABY #11 is on the way!!!!!
2. Don has been cast a movie called "Framed!" He will play the role of a pastor. The shooting schedule has not been set yet.
3. We are excited about developments with After Eden Pictures. However, we won't be receiving an income for some time, so Don is actively seeking opportunities to keep the family fed. :o) (He is a "jack of all trades" and can do almost anything). So, give him a call if you think of anything that he can do for you! 214-578-2644
4. Nathan just got his driver's license!
5. Noah successfully revived an old go-cart that a neighbor gave him. It wasn't running when he received it and now it's fully functional!
   

Making Sisters Best Friends

I've learned that sisters (and brothers, for that matter) can be best friends or worst enemies. Isn't that true of husbands and wives sometimes too? I am very grateful that Don and I are best friends most of the time! :o)

Through much trial and error, I've learned what works best for me in encouraging them to be best friends. It's not ing, coaxing or talking to them until I am blue in the face either, LOL! When two of my daughters are fighting, I simply send them to their room and tell them not to come out until they've "made things right with each other" (apologized for their own wrong-doing in the situation) and become best friends again! In doing this, I am not "the bad guy" and they work things out on their own. So many times in the past, I've been the judge in countless arguments, etc. That's so tiring, especially with 10 children!

Usually, they come out of their room within minutes and they both have good attitudes...it's amazing! Sometimes they will stay in their room for awhile. If for some reason, I don't think they were honest and genuine and came out of their room prematurely, I just send them back!
Our children really should be best friends with one another. We tell our children, "God first, family second, friends and others third."

Unfortunately, we live in a society that does not promote those priorities in that way. Often in TV shows, movies, etc., the parents are depicted as being dumb, aloof, not in touch with today's youth, etc. The children and teens are the ones who are often portrayed as being superior to s. Often in TV and movies, children and teens are disrespectful to parents and other siblings. This is so sad. It's easy to see how Satan has gotten a foothold in so many ways in the media today. Also, it is typical to see brothers/sisters on TV and movies fighting with one another. Many families have fallen apart and are continuing to fall apart...

We need to instill godly characteristics in our children. Most of all, we parents need to godly characteristics for them. It is possible for children to be best friends, but we need to encourage them to be that way!

What Homeschooling is all about!

A couple of months ago, one of our dear neighbors gave Noah an old go-cart. He blessed Noah by saying if you "like to tinker on things," here is an old go-cart you can have, with the warning that "it doesn't work." Noah was up to the challenge and after working on the go-cart, studying small engine mechanics and numerous trips to get parts and a couple of online purchases for parts, Noah got the go-cart to run! The first time, it ran a little then quit. However, today he and Nathan were able to drive it for about 15 minutes before the engine stopped. As you can see, they had a fun time riding the go-cart in the mud and got quite dirty!

For our family, this is what homeschooling is all about! Noah had to do a lot of research and spend his own money, but he's learned a lot about small engines and is proud of this accomplishment. He's decided he would like to take a small engine class and start a small business. We are supporting him all the way! This kind of hands-on learning is the best. We are grateful God led us to homeschool our children and we will continue to do so until He instructs us otherwise.