Paracord Summer Project

My son, Popcorn, is making and selling Paracord Survival Bracelets.  These have a really nice black clasp on them.  He sells them for $5 a piece.  You can buy a premade one or he can take requests for your favorite color schemes.  The colors are:  lime green, rainbow, pink, purple, dark blue, Pink/Purple Mix.  You can do up to three colors in a bracelet.  They make great gifts.  This is his summer project, if you are interested let me know.

An Eight cow woman deserves an Eight cow man

I got this great book from my Grandma Jean and my husband and I really liked it.  It talks about the important aspects of a trusting relationship.  Have you heard of the Johnny Lingo Story?  I remember watching the video in Sunday School when I was a girl.  Its a beautiful story.  This book takes that idea and makes the 8 cows that Johnny offers 8 essential qualities you need to have to make a strong relationship.  This book can be for married couples, dating or engaged couples, or someone single looking to start a good relationship.  The book is great but you can also get a start by going to the website and signing up for the 8 tips for a successful relationship.  You get one tip a day sent to your e-mail.
A strong relationship between husband and wife can really make your children feel secure, safe and happy. I really hope that for all children so lets all .   I don't think there is anyone that can say they have a perfect marriage.  But I believe we can always work to make our marriages better, how do we do that, we have to do it from within ourselves.  We are the only one that we can change!

Energy Drinks

Our school principal recently sent out a letter to the parents warning that energy drinks will not be permitted on school campus.  I was happy to see this because I believe they are dangerous and addicting.  The principal said  these drinks can be incredibly dangerous especially combined with certain foods or medications.
Right now there is not a lot research on energy drinks and the dangers.  But what research has been done confirms what I already believe, that Energy Drinks are a bad idea, especially for children and teens.
A report done in Feb 2011 in the journal Pediatrics suggests that energy drinks can be particularly unsafe for children who have ADHD, heart conditions, and diabetes.  In the article it sites pediatricians getting concerned  because children were coming to the hospital because they were sick after drinking energy drinks.  Part of the problem is parents didn't know the difference between energy drinks and sport drinks.  These are completely different products.  Sport drinks are for hydrating and energy drinks are for stimulating an artificial energy in your body.
Because drinks are categorized as dietary supplements, the FDA does not regulate the drinks at all.  This is very concerning to me.  Health Officials have been tracking health effects of energy drinks since 2002.  They have seen adverse effects such as liver damage, racing heart rate, seizures, respiratory disease, and even death.
For me if you need energy why don't you try getting more sleep, exercise, eating healthier.  Research shows short cuts to better health, weight loss just don't work so why would a quick 5 hour energy drink be good for you?  I just don't "buy" it!