There’s a lot of discussion of late about our freedoms being taken away by our government. I personally believe we’re losing freedoms because we are ignorant about what our rights as US citizens really are. Because we don’t know our own Constitution, we fall for whatever a politician or judge tells us our rights are. We walk about supporting candidates that we don’t have a clue what they stand for simply because they have brown hair or a particular party affiliation or because they promise benefits that ultimately require more taxes. Wasn’t it wonderful to get to pay even more taxes after the first of the year? Not. The direction our nation is headed is truly unfortunate because so many died to bring the US into being, and many more have died defending her since.

Well, the song was wrong. You know, the one that says, “the flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away”? Oh yes, “they” can and “they” will unless we stand up and defend our Constitution and the liberties it provides. There will always be someone willing and able take away our freedom, but there may not always be those who wish to defend it. I’ve been reading Ben Carson’s book, America the Beautiful. I tell you what, based on what I’ve read so far, I’d vote for him if he ran for any office. We need some common sense, non-political people in places of authority, because Lord knows we don’t have very many walking about in Washington or even in the state legislatures for that matter (nor have we for a while).

America may well turn around… or she may be overtaken. I really have no idea what the future holds. What I do know is that there is a kind of freedom that no man can take, and that’s our freedom in Christ. If the Lord has set me free, I am free indeed! I need not fear anything that man or evil can throw my way because God has made a way to freedom that is everlasting. So, I dare say, I will not put my trust in any politician or even my own abilities, but rather in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Are you looking to make some changes in 2013? Check out The Journey for more information.

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What I read: Numbers 35-36

What I ate:

• Breakfast – Green Smoothie (6oz AJ, 6oz CW, 2 bananas, 2oz kale, 2oz spinach, 6oz strawberries)
  
• AM Snack – 2 bananas
• Lunch – 8 oranges juiced
  
• Dinner – Raw tomato Soup (added some guacamole to it)
• PM Snack – raw pistachios, AJ

What I did: TKD (1 hr) + 1 hour in skates teaching preschoolers + lots of pushups

Here are the notes I made regarding my symptoms throughout Day 69:

• slowed digestion (gas, abdominal pain, bloating)
  
• headaches
  
• puffy hands, feet, and face
  
• sinus congestion
  
• dry/itchy eyes, skin, and scalp
  
• acne
  
• aching muscles and muscle spasms
  
• foggy brain
• irritability
  
• mood swings
  
• blood sugar fluctuations
  
• fatigue – still having bouts of fatigue, but not as bad
  
• unable to sleep well
  
• unquenchable thirst
  
• cravings
  
• chest pain
• cold sores – last one 1/13/2013
  
• kidney stones – eliminated when we went vegan Oct 2011
• tooth pain
• sensitive teeth