Where Does Wheat Hide Out?

As I've mentioned before, my family decided to go wheat and gluten-free the first of this year. Although my husband is the only one with celiac tendencies, the whole family joins in the new diet. Much to our surprise, it is relatively easy, we still get to enjoy our favorite treats and such with the necessary tweaks to avoid the gluten, and all feel better. One problem that we have learned to contend with is reading and then re-reading product labels as wheat and gluten can hid under many names. I looked around, did some research, and found this link which is very detailed and even surprised me with some of the items listed. For all the gluten-free readers, I'm happy to share the following:

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=52

Alarming Find of the Day . . .

After a summer out and about in the sun and dealing with the passing years, many of us consider using a skin whitening lotion to lighten sun spots and uneven skin tones. I was browsing through some sites that offered a variety of the stuff and there are two ingredients that keep showing up in the ingredient list - Hydroquinone and Clobetaso. I assume these two items must work in the lotions but decided to investigate further. Found out some worrisome facts.

Hydroquinone is a carcinogenic agent which can cause cancer when used excessively or over a long period of time. The more pigment in your skin, the higher the risk. Eventually, it can cause permanent problems or disfigure your skin.

Clobetaso is a strong corticosteroid usually used in treating psoriasis and eczema and over seen by a doctor.

Reading this made me much happier with my uneven tan marks. Finding out that over 100 such lotions on the market do contain one or both of these ingredients is shocking. The world would like to deprive us of  free choice in what we eat or drink yet let companies continue to use potentially harmful ingredients in non-prescription products.

Thought I'd share my finds of the day. The more I consider things, the happier I am to stick with the uneven tan marks I've been blessed with over the summer.

The world gets crazier every day . . .

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/06/republican-chairman-blasts-democrats-who-prayed-for-abortion/

I'm finding it difficult to understand why people would pray for abortions and abortionists as evidenced recently in the news. I can see people praying for someone to not kill a living baby and save his or her life for the plan God has in mind for them. However, to pray that babies continue to be murdered in the womb astonishes me. When these pro-choice people bow their heads in prayer, what do they exactly pray for and to whom? According to God's Commandments, 'thou shalt not kill' so how would one phrase a prayer to God that is in direct opposition.

A contradiction that needs no explaining . . .

A Smile for the Day . . .

Travel Plans for 2013-2014

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.  I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane.  They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much into physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt.  That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense!  It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in.  It's an age thing.  They tell me it is very wet and damp there.

(shared by a friend via e-mail)

Labor Day - Prayer from the Christian Foundation for the Children and Aging site . . .

This Labor Day we recall that many of our sisters and brothers in communities around the world long to be able to have meaningful work. A hymn, "Those Who Love and Those Who Labor," reminds us work is vital on both the material and spiritual levels. Those who love and those who labor, follow in the way of Christ; Raise the stone and you shall find me; cleave the wood, and there am I. Where the many work together, they with Christ himself abide. But the lonely workers also find him ever at their side. Lo, the Prince of common welfare dwells within the market strife; Lo, the bread of heaven is broken in the sacrament of life.

Please pray

Loving God, we thank you for the labor of work and the privilege of being co-creators in your divine economy. May we learn through the sacrament of work to be ever more aware of the material and spiritual needs of each and all. Amen.

Seemingly not widely known but why not?

I love throwing out what I know to be a fact and then bet with people who haven't learned by now that I don't present something I haven't researched a bit. This is a good question to ask - Did the Japanese attack the West Coast during World War II? No? Check out this interesting link:

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/japanese-bombing-west-coast.html