Anyone that knows our family knows that we like tea, especially Brittany! So in honor of her, I thought I would post this article in hopes of encouraging others but also just to bring a smile to Brittany when she reads this. Love you Brittany and am so thankful for you! You add such a special sparkle to our family!!! ~Mom
So make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy the read. :-)
Cancer-Fighting Beverage: 10 Health Benefits of Tea
By Ty Bollinger
Are you thinking about changing up your morning coffee routine? Maybe you’d
like to add a healthier drink to your diet. Perhaps you simply love the
taste. Whatever your reasons, the many health benefits of tea are
going to change the way you feel inside and out.
The scientific focus of this historical beverage is a fairly new
undertaking. Ancient cultures, however, have known how wonderful tea is since
1,000 BC. The Chinese were the first to introduce tea to the world. For more
than a thousand years they used it almost exclusively for medicinal purposes. Traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) often refers to tea throughout their texts for ailments
both big and small.
Many scientific studies are finally touting the health benefits of tea,
particularly the green
tea varieties. Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition
at the Harvard School of Public Health, has said, “Tea consumption,
especially green tea, may not be the magic bullet, but it can be incorporated
in an overall healthy diet.”
10 Ways You Receive the Health Benefits of Tea
Polyphenols Content: Polyphenols, especially catechins and
epicatechins, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. These little
powerhouses protect your body from the bad things you consume. Over time,
they may even help reduce the risks associated with diabetes and cardiovascular
disease. If you drink too much caffeinated tea, you may get a little jittery,
but overall it suits a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Loss: Tea may be able to help you lose weight or keep that
waistline in check. In a study of tea drinkers versus non-tea drinkers,
the people consuming hot tea on a regular basis had smaller waistlines and a
lower BMI (body mass index).
Increased Muscle Endurance: If you’re looking for better exercise
endurance, green tea may help. Scientists discovered that antioxidants in green
tea extract increase your body’s ability to burn fat as fuel. This allows you
to build your stamina at the gym more quickly and reap the benefits of a
healthier body.
Cancer Protection: The powerful antioxidants found in tea can actually
protect your body from cancer. Current research has shown that tea
helps your body fight off certain cancers, including colon, breast,
ovarian, prostate, and many others. Tea isn’t a cure for cancer, but it is a
simple and effective superfood that can help lower your personal risk.
Fight Free Radicals: What’s a free radical? They’re the bad guys that
invade your cells and alter them for the worse. The extensive damage they cause
has been scientifically linked to heart disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s
disease. Despite your body’s design, it is not always able to fight off the
free radicals – especially if you have a poor diet or lifestyle habits.
Antioxidants found in tea help fight the bad guys.
Defend Bones: The compounds found in green tea improve bone strength
and density. This is great news as we age and our bones begin to weaken. Used
in conjunction with mild weight or strength training and a healthy diet, green
tea can help you fight the ravages of osteoporosis.
Regulate Blood Sugar: People with Type 2 diabetes benefit from regular
tea consumption. The compounds in green tea help the metabolic system process
sugars more efficiently. In a surprising finding, studies showed that people
who drank at least six cups of green tea per week were less likely to develop
diabetes at all.
Boost Brain Power: Many factors influence your brain health. Age,
weight, activity levels, and smoking all factor into the way our brains age.
Polyphenols in tea may slow the effects of
aging in the brain’s memory and learning centers. This includes
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
Hydration: Your body is comprised mostly of water. You have to
have it for your body to function properly and experts estimate that 75% of
Americans are chronically dehydrated. Not everyone enjoys drinking gallons of
water every day, and coffee (despite its other benefits) has dehydrating
effects. Tea, despite the caffeine, is a hydrating beverage. Next time you’re
falling asleep at 3 pm, try iced green tea for a refreshing pick-me-up instead
of coffee.
Healthy Teeth and Gums: Countries known for their tea consumption
likely drink it plain or only lightly sweetened. Tea contains naturally
occurring fluoride and tannins. These help prevent plaque from forming on the
teeth. Unsweetened tea, along with a daily regimen of brushing and flossing,
helps keep those pearly whites healthy.
What Type Should You Drink to Gain the Most Health Benefits of Tea?
There are a myriad of choices of tea in your local grocery store so you’re
sure to find one that suits your taste. Before you go diving into a fancy
flavored blend, keep in mind that real tea (Camellia sinensis)
consists of four varieties: green, black, white, and oolong.
Teas referred to as “herbal” are not the same. These types of brews are not
made from tea leaves but from flowers, fruit, or roots.
Read your labels if you’re looking for health benefits and avoid pre-bottled
varieties that have had all the good stuff processed out. While tea is
healthy, sugar is NOT! Processed beverages are loaded with additives that
negate the health benefits of tea. If you can’t stand unsweetened drinks,
consider using maple sugar or raw honey instead.
Hot or iced, unsweetened or gently kissed with honey… tea is a wonderful
choice for your anti-cancer lifestyle.
Stay informed and don’t miss a single article or interview from The
Truth About Cancer. Go here to
be notified each week about new, cutting-edge information that impacts your
health.
Brittany was able to travel with a dear family friend, who is like a little brother to her, back to Ohio to help Grandma travel down to Georgia to come see us. :-) (15 hours is a long ways for my mom to travel by herself.) This was the first time Brittany had ever rode a bus or traveled so far away without any of us. We were thankful for Tim being willing to be her traveling companion. What a mix of emotion as we took her to meet the bus.
A bit fuzzy and not a good pic of Es but the love of each of Brittany's siblings for her is so precious. She puts so much into each of them, it was so sweet to see the notes and little things that each one did for her. They all love their big sister A LOT! How special it is to be apart of a family and be surrounded by so much love.
They had to switch buses in Cleveland and there were only a hand full of them going on to Indiana. It was so neat though because one of the other young men from Hicksville got on that bus from a different bus. It was a neat experience and Brittany said it was a comfortable environment. Pioneer Trials is a Mennonite family owned company and draws a lot of Amish and older people. A great way to travel down south or to the Midwest.
Grandma was there to pick up Brittany with a huge smile and lots of delight to see her oldest granddaughter. :-)
I asked Brittany if it felt like she was home; being back in Ohio. She said that Ohio will always be special to her. It is so beautiful.
But she still says she can't wait to get home and be back with her family. We can't wait to have her back home too! We miss her!!! And an added bonus is that she is bringing Grandma with her. We can't wait to see her too. We have not seen her since the beginning of November. It has been too long. Lord willing, they will pull in tomorrow evening and the adventure of life will continue on as we enjoy having Brittany back home and enjoy Grandma for a month or so.
We have so very much to be grateful for. May we never cease to recognize all the little and big things in life that we should be grateful for and thank the Lord for His goodness to us.
It is hard to believe that this beautiful young lady is now 22. Where have the years gone. Breanna you have always been such a joy in our home. We love you so much and are so very grateful that God gave you to this family.
Daddy's Girls
This man is so surrounded by love! They truly adore and look up to their daddy! We were sitting at the table the other day and Esther (age 6) said, "I want to marry someone like Daddy some day." Brittany (age 25) says so do Bree and I, that is what we are still waiting for. :-) How thankful I am for such a Godly man.
Oh these boys . . . I love them so!
Our first time getting to celebrate our precious new daughter-in-law's birthday. Martha is such a blessing. We all love her SO much! What a joy she and Tayte are to watch as they have begun their journey together.
Last but not least of the musings today . . . Daisy, our super special family dog, had 10 new puppies Tuesday. The children were so excited. Anyone need one or two ?? :-)
Hope you are all having a fantastic new year so far and are staying warm. Even here in South Georgia it has been cold. :-)
While in Ohio, getting the remains of our things that we could not take in our last trip last summer while moving, attending one of our precious friends wedding, Seth completing some work and visiting with Grandma and others, our little Esther began learning to ride her two wheel bike.
Sarah Morton is now Mrs. Jonathan Manring!
Their wedding was simply elegant and so focused upon the truth that marriage is truly a covenant relationship ordained by God. What a blessing to be able to attend one of our dearest family friends youngest and last daughter's wedding and to be able to see so many of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I can not begin to tell you the joy of that special evening. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Manring! Our deepest love and blessings to you both!
A sweet friend, and another special friend's new baby.
It was so precious to get to talk with you again, Anna!
Saturday Seth and the children loaded up the remainder of our items that our sweet neighbors had allowed us to store at their houses. They so enjoyed getting to see our old neighbors and the folks that bought our old house. Mom and I went to Fort Wayne grocery shopping and had a special time together. :-)
Sunday we worshiped with our dear brothers and sisters of Keefer Creek, where we use to attend before we moved. Oh, how precious that was. Pastor Lederman is preaching through the book of Romans currently and was in the sixth chapter verse 13. His exhortation to not yield our members to unrighteousness was a powerful and needed message. It is so easy to make soft choices and not even realize how we are yielding our members to unrighteousness. The love and warmth that we received from everyone was so touching to us. We so love these people! Elizabeth also got to see her super special friend Mr. Donald. He is one of the residents of the nursing home where the church meets weekly. I think he was as thrilled to see her as she was him. We were just so blessed in every way!
Sunday evening we were so blessed to have been invited to join our precious Amish friends for supper and their evening service of singing. Our old neighbors were truly the best we have ever had. Even though we are not Amish they embraced us from the very moment that we moved in and even though we have moved away they continue to pour so much love out to us. We were invited to dinner, received an angel food cake and the most delicious cinnamon rolls that ever a soul has made! We so do not deserve all the love that people give to us.
Saturday evening chatting at the road. The joys of rural northwest Ohio. :-)
Monday was a super special day as we got to spend the entire day with my brother and his awesome family! I have the BEST big brother in the whole wide world! He is the neatest guy one could ever meet! The little children had such a great time playing with their cousins. My sister-in-law of course must be a special lady because she is married to my brother. :-) Sonya is an incredible woman. She inspires us so much! We really enjoyed catching up and being spurred on in the area of discipline in our own lives. It was such a special time catching up with Alli and Nick. So many sweet memories shared over the years. We are just so blessed!
Dad and Uncle Merrill grilling.
Lots of things for all us ladies to talk about!
Such precious times ~ you really miss them afterwards.
Brittany getting in some cuddle time with Katie. Such a sweetheart!
All the little girlies playing dress-up. :-)
Sitting around talking, laughing, and catching up.
Precious time. Miss you all so much already!
Bell and Katie Bell
These two have really enjoyed corresponding since our move.
Hayden, Nick, and Ti, riding fourwheelers
which Titus thoroughly enjoyed!
Nick, you're growing up into such a precious young man. :-)
Love listening to the guys tell stories and seeing them laugh. :-)
These two have been friends for a long time!
Sarah, Dani, and Esther
Three sweet little cousins
that were glad to get to spend some time together again!
Bree, Alli, and Britt
It was sure nice to be together again!
Loved all the talk time with you, Alli, and hearing about
what your up to and planning on being up to.
This picture always makes me miss you.
Tuesday we spent the day at Grammy's helping her do some things that needed done outside. What a fun day! We cut her pampas grass, weeded all the flower beds, purchased flowers and planted them in the various different places, sucked all the the leaves out of her flower beds and just truly had an awesome time.
We stayed at my mom's house and I assure you she showed us so much patience and love. She lives by herself and to have eight people ages forty six to three is quite a change for eight days. Only a deep and great love could possibly had gotten her through our evasion. She spoils us soooooo much! We love you Grammy!! Thank you for being such an extraordinary and loving person! We are so blessed that God gave you to be my mom / our grandma!
There were three things that we were hoping to do after getting to see all the special people that God has placed in our lives. They were: 1. have pizza from Hometown pizza (the best pizza around) 2. Go to our favorite thrift store in Bryan ( you get to fill a whole bag for only $9.99) and 3. Go to the thrift store in Hicksville ( they have awesome prices and we always find things at both of these thrift stores. Well Wednesday, Breanna had made plans with their old piano teacher to meet for coffee, oh was this a blessing. It was so good catching up with her and being so spiritually encouraged by her. She was and is such a blessing in our family's life!
Love you Connie and thank you for taking time to meet with us.
After we left the coffee shop . . . we got to go to our favorite thrift store in Bryan, our bag was overflowing! :-) Then we visited one of our most precious Amish friends that we used to be so close to. That was such a special time! One final stop for the day before heading back to Grammy's, who kept the younger ones at home with her while the older girls and I were out. We made a quick stop at our favorite thrift store in Hicksville and were blessed again to find many items. We had two bags and our bill was $15. All their blue tags were even half off so a lot of the items were only 50 or 65 cents. We have got to keep looking for thrift stores like these in Georgia. :-)
Oh and just for the record, we had Hometown pizza on Saturday night! It was awesome, as expected!!!
My precious hard working husband was working Tuesday and Wednesday in Bryan for his old company then he and Brittany took off at 4 in the morning Thursday to go to their Dover, Ohio plant to finish up the work that he needed to do.
True Ohio Beauty ~ Farming at Sunset
Took this picture on our way back to Grandma's Thursday evening.
So sad I didn't think to take any while we were working,
as it really was a special time that I enjoyed getting to spend with Dad.
This picture was taken with Tayte especially in mind. :-)
Thursday night our two little cousins spent the night at Grandma's with us. Wow, was that a full room! But the kids had so much fun. :-) Friday morning we said goodbye. So hard, we always have to think about the next time we'll see each other, which usually isn't too long thanks to Grandma who braves the trip so often down to see us. :-)
We had to make a stop in Shipshewanna, Indiana at our old bulk supply store. It was great to get stocked back up on things!
Then it was on to our other Grandma's house to see Dad's side of the family. It was very sweet getting to see everyone again, except for a couple of our cousins who couldn't make it who we missed. Dinner was awesome. Grandma prepared some wonderful dishes that Mom got recipes for that evening, and our Aunt made her fantastic pasta salad. The rest of the day was spent in fellowship; again catching up on everything and sharing new things and stories. It was precious time that we were so grateful for.
Grandma with Aunt Serena, Dad, and Aunt Tonja
Three of her four kiddos.
Sarah singing a song for Grandma.
Such special time :-)
I love Grandma's smile here, like she's drinking in the moment.
Closing down the evening
We girls and Zariah, our cousin Kayla's little girl.
The little girls had so much fun together.
Ti and Grandpa :-)
Grandma with all the little kiddos :-)
We spent Friday night at Grandma's house and then took off early, or as early as these Alexanders could do :-), Saturday morning to head back home. We got to spend some extra time with our Aunt Serena as she rode with us until we got to Kentucky. We then got to see all of her children, some of whom we hadn't seen in years. We took a nice little break talking with everyone for a while before taking off again. Then it was home, sweet home.
We were so blessed to get to see everyone that we did and to do all the things we did. The Lord was very good to make provision for everything to come together the way it did. And we were very glad to see Tayte when we got home, who we missed very much while gone. :-) We are already looking forward to when we can make a visit back to Ohio again.
Yesterday Brittany and I went to Lane Southern Orchard to pick up our peaches to can this year. Two years ago, we had a semi load shipped to Ohio. How neat it was to actually meet Duke Lane that I worked with two summers ago to get the load up there and to see their operation and facility.
True education . . . :-) Titus, actually none of the younger children
have ever been to Krispy Kremes and gotten to watch a doughnut being
made. (See how our younger children are missing out Jenese without your
family's imput into our daily lives) :-) I needed to drop off and
then pick up the next day a radiator for Seth, so I sought to make the
most of the time with Titus one day and treated him to his first
experience of watching the doughnut making process and his first HOT and
NOW. He thought it was great! Such fun with such a precious little
guy!
The girls and I have been having such fun as we are putting some of our touches into the kitchen and dining room. I present . . . our kitchen sink area.
Here are some random pictures from May. Though a little over-due, hopefully you'll enjoy seeing a little bit of what was going on for our family that month. :-)
Dad and Tayte working on the lawnmower together.
Such a precious sight.
These two have worked very hard together over the years.
Movie night at the Morton's -just we kids- the parents went out.
Here the guys were having a lively, intense discussion before the movie.
We'll spare the details, but all we girls did find it amusing. :-)
Breanna helped the little ones make a sweet banner for Mom for Mother's Day.
The hand print flowers stated some of Mom's character qualities.
The leaves told things that they were thankful for that she did for them.
We're so thankful for Mom and Dad. The Lord has blessed us with such wonderful parents!
Working on setting poles for Dad's barn/shop.
We enjoy working hard together as a family.
It makes for very special memories. :-)
Mom and Sarah.
One of those sweet, fun moments. :-)
Such precious smiles.
(Gotta love the sticker on Sarah's forehead!)
Another precious, fun moment.
Esther ~ sweet and silly, ray of sunshine. :-)
Breanna playing ball with the kids.
(And our good dog, Daisy, always nearby.)
Mom and Dad taught we children how to play Hearts.
Elizabeth and Titus caught on really fast and enjoyed it,
and the little two like to help hold the cards and lay them.
I think this picture is just classic. It makes me smile.
Mom and Bell with their sweet smiles, and Sarah with her big eyes like she's getting smothered. :-)
Tayte and Bree in his truck.
I thought this picture was neat.
And I must say, I think it's one perfect farm truck. :-)
The Lord is so good and gracious. Sometimes we get caught up in the things that aren't going quite right, or how we wish they were, or think they should, or the things that worry us. But when we look back and reflect, we so see the Lord's loving hand guiding and blessing, teaching and leading. He has given us and blessed us with so much! May we continue to look back, and ahead, and see the faithfulness of the Lord!
Our family also took a trip back up north in May. Mom and I are working on a post for the trip. Lord willing, we'll soon have it done. :-)
~Brittany
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Elizabeth made her first pillowcase a while back.
She's well on her way to become a great little seamstress!
She was so tickled when she got it finished and had it on her pillow. :-)
I love this picture of her. So her - always a cheerful, happy, ray of sunshine.
Best buddies . . . they were just too precious to not snap a picture of them. Playing with the doll house, caring for her baby and all dressed up with clothes pin earrings. Such sweetie pies!
Breanna reading to . . . Brittany and Tayte. LOL
Breanna discovered that as good as the Sherwood films movies are the books are even better. There was no way she was getting to read this one by herself. Tayte and Brittany were just a excited about reading Fireproof. Not very often that the three oldest sit and read a book together. Another precious site! These three are best friends and such a blessing to Seth and I!
