Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Guardian Angels

I pictured for years, when my husband traveled for business, an angel with a flaming sword sitting on our roof every night. Protecting. Keeping away evil. Battling any bad guys. I could sleep at night with a heavenly partner in my corner. Especially after our child was born.

When my son entered high school the intensity of the social culture kicked up a notch. Not so much the popularity pressure but other influences like alcohol. Drugs. Smoking. Sex. As a parent vigilance took on an intense new meaning. I asked for the Holy Spirit to protect my son. To re-enforce good decisions, right choices. Two names and faces appeared in my mind' eye: 'Frank' with glasses, short dishwater blond hair, thin, kind of geeky. 'Joe' -- darker/longer hair, brown eyes, very cool dude. (Guess our kid needed extra attention!)

During the college years I found myself praying even harder, relying on them all the more. All this sound weird? To you, maybe. To me? Absolute relief. Four years flew by. No calls from jail or the hospital.

We could look at this from a practical viewpoint. Strictly as an employment issue. Think of all the good souls now living in God's house. Their loyalty, faith, focus to duty are unquestionable making them excellent prospects for the millions of positions available. It's the perfect situation. Their talents partnered with the desperate need here on earth. Talk about a win-win.

So -- we're down to brass tacks. Do GA's exist? I haven't seen any. Nor talked to one. No correspondence has ever been exchanged. No fingerprints, footprints, etc etc. (... or wing-prints in this case) have been found in or around my house. No physical evidence. But that's what makes it feel so good. My faith alone unequivocally tells me they are here.

And that's all the proof I need.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Lutein, My New BFF

Last year's eye exam revealed the slight possibility of my developing Macular Degeneration. Scared the bejeebies out of me. Even the mere thought of living only with peripheral vision rocked my world. My optomitrist recommended spinach, blueberries and brewed tea all of which hold healthy natual suppliments for eyesight.

Those three components instantaneously became constant residents with reserved shelf space in our refrigerator. Each are eaten everyday without fail. (The thought of me eating spinach AT ALL is crazy enough -- my we--known hatred of this cooked vegetable has been replaced with a fantastic respect for its fresh form!!)

Fast forward to this year's annual visit. 1) Photographs showed NO CHANGE!!! 2) Suggestion made for eye vitamins -- containing Lutein. Eye vitamins?? What do you mean 'eye vitamins'?? Went straight to the nearest CVS. Read every label on every available brand (the employee stocking the shelves asked me twice if I needed help!). Chose one with 20mg. *Lutein is found in the macula. Deeper concentration of pigment is optimum for good eye health. Some studies also show a correlation between higher levels of this vitamin with lower risk for cataracts.

Some days I swear I'm turning blue. Or green. But considering the alternative --I don't care what color I am!