1. Figure out what you want your life to be as an elderly person

At that point, what will be important to you? Consider these areas: Spiritual and ethical, family and home, financial and career, physical and health, social and cultural, and mental and educational. To have a well-balanced life these should all be considered. What would make you happy so that you can die in peace? Consider what you want, not what you want to leave behind.

Pray about it

Take the time to pray and ask for guidance and inspiration. God expects us to study things out on our own and make good decisions. Ask for confirmation of your decisions. If you don't have a good feeling about it you may want to reconsider.

Make goals

Consider each area separately and write clear and measurable goals.

Write it down

If you feel good about it, write it down in a positive way. Don't write what you don't want, but keep everything positive. Writing everything down makes it concrete. These are your lifetime goals, your destination.

2. Look at where you want to beĀ five to 10 years from now

What can you do in this time to achieve your goals in each area? This should keep you on the path to your final goal.

Include detail

You know your destination but it always helps to get where you want to go if you have a map. Fill in your road map with more details. What do you want to have accomplished by this time?

Gather support

Share your goals with those around you. Find your support group and stay in close touch with them. Do not let the negative attitude of family, friends, and neighbors drag you down and away from your goals.

3. Decide where you want to beĀ three years from now

What can you be doing so that you can reach your ultimate goal? You will experience more progress the more detailed your goals are.

4. Then, create a one-year plan, six-month plan, and a one-month plan

Make a plan of progressively smaller goals that you should reach at this time in order to achieve your lifetime goals. Each of these should be based on the previous plan.

5. Now, make a to-do list for the day or week

• Be specific.

• Measure your goal by effort, not by results. There are many things out of a person's control.

• Make sure they are attainable but not too easy.

• Reward yourself for larger goals attained.

• Track your accomplishments.

6. Review and adjust

Learn from your experiences. Re-evaluate your action plans whenever needed to see if they are still consistent with your inner desires and life's vision. It is easy to get off on a side road.

Don't just put your goals away and forget them. Look at them each day and see what you can do to accomplish them. Work and then check the progress you made. Listen to a mentor such as Napoleon Hill. All 13 of his messages can be found on YouTube at Primeau Productions.

You now have your long-term vision and your short-term motivation. If you find things did not work as you had expected or planned, don't be discouraged. Try again tomorrow. Make sure you stay on target. Stay positive. You have mapped out your life. You may have to find an alternate route when you run into a detour, but stay on track and you will be successful.

The post Don’t just wish: 6 steps for making and achieving life goals appeared first on FamilyToday.

At one such point in my life, I pleaded to know why, and the words, "Be still and know that I am God," came to my mind. That was followed by the words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." I immediately felt a peace and calm come over me.

I remembered these words from the Bible and wanted to see if I could find them. The first Bible verse is Psalms 46:10, and the latter is in Isaiah 55:8. The next three verses expounded on the first and touched my heart.

These words reassure us that God is in charge. He sees the big picture while we are not able to see past the immediate challenges we face. I believe He is our Father in Heaven who loves us and wants the very best for us.

It is almost like he is playing a tremendously large chess game. Each one of us are the players. He knows who he must inspire to accomplish his purposes. Each choice we make affects others, sometimes close to us and others anywhere in the world.

There is a story about a little girl named Mary whose father worked digging wells. Every day Mary took a sack lunch to her father. Looking down into the dark hole, she couldn't see her father working at the bottom, but he could see her standing in the light. Every day, she called out to her father. He told her to drop the sack down to him, and he would catch it. One day, her father said, "Why don't you come down and join me for lunch today? If you'll just jump into the hole, I'll catch you."

"But, Daddy, I can't see you."

"I can see you, and I will catch you."

Trusting, the little girl jumped. Her father caught her, and they enjoyed their lunch together.

This is the kind of faith that the scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God," is talking about. We must have an absolute faith in God to accept that he knows all and whatever happens is for our benefit. I believe he can see us and knows what we need to become the person we need to be.

Instead of asking why, it would be more profitable for us to pray and ask for peace through our trials and the strength to endure them well. We can ask him to help us recognize what he wants us to learn from the challenges we face.

When we approach God in faith and show our faith by obeying his commandments and living the very best we can, we will be guided and blessed. Just hold on. God knows what he is doing.

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It is a fact that from the moment we are born, we will die. Death is as much a part of life as life is. So why are we so afraid of death? It seems that humans have a fear of anything unknown and what happens after we die is an unknown entity. Different faiths believe many things about death, but until we experience death itself, we can only have hope. Examining some of these beliefs gives us and our family members comfort and hope that life does not end with death.

Baptist

Followers of Christ will spend eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ. Christians die; their bodies are buried but their spirits (or souls) immediately enter the presence of the Lord in heaven. When Jesus Christ returns to earth, Christians' bodies will be raised from the dead, made perfect, and then be reunited with their spirits to live forever with Jesus. Non-Christians, murderers, sexually immoral people, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars shall have a part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: the second death. All will die, but Christians don't experience the second death.

Catholic

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that every spiritual soul "is immortal: It does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection" At death, the soul separates from the body, is immediately judged, and enters either heaven (immediately or through purgatory) or hell.

Mormon

Death is a temporary separation of the spirit from the body. Spirits dwell in the spirit world. People who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived righteously are assigned to paradise. People who rejected the gospel and those who died without a knowledge of the truth are assigned to spirit prison (hell).

The righteous spirits in paradise teach the wicked spirits in hell. They can repent, which opens the prison doors and enables those bound with the chains of hell to free themselves from darkness, unbelief, ignorance, and sin. They can leave hell that imprisons them and dwell with the righteous in paradise until the Resurrection and Judgment.

After the resurrection and judgment, we will dwell in one of three kingdoms of glory. There are different degrees of righteousness on the earth, and there are kingdoms of differing glory in the next life: the celestial kingdom is the highest, followed by the terrestrial and the telestial. To reward many different levels of faithfulness, there will be "many mansions." Those who attain the Celestial kingdom will be exalted to the godlike state referred to as eternal life. Eternal life includes a loving Father in Heaven, our family members, our ancestors and our posterity.

Hindu

• The soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is dependent on how the previous life was lived (karma).

• People build up karma, good and bad, based on their actions within that lifetime. Karma affects their future lives and existences. People must take responsibility for their actions in each life. Death is the last cycle of life referred to as the "last sacrifice."

• Moksha is the end of the death and rebirth cycle and is classed as the fourth and ultimate goal. It is achieved by overcoming ignorance and desires.

Jewish

Traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence but does not have much opinion about the afterlife, thus leaving room for personal opinion. An Orthodox Jew can believe that the souls of the righteous dead go to a place similar to the Christian heaven, or that they are reincarnated through many lifetimes, or that they simply wait until the coming of the messiah, when they will be resurrected. They can believe that the souls of the wicked are tormented by demons of their own creation, or that wicked souls are destroyed at death, ceasing to exist.

Islam

Heaven and Hell are realities to be faced on the Day of Judgment; to be granted Allah's mercy and enter Paradise, or enter Hellfire. No one will enter them before the Day of Judgment. Rather, both body and soul will spend time in their graves while they wait for that day. The grave of a believer will be well lit, spacious, and comfortable. The grave of nonbelievers will be dark, cramped, and frightening.

Buddhist

• Buddhists believe in reincarnation. Personalities will change and be modified by conscious effort and conditioning factors like education, parental influence and society. But at death, it will reestablish itself as life in a new being. This process of dying and rebirth continues until cravings and ignorance cease. Then, instead of being reborn, the mind attains a state called Nirvana.

• Those who imagine evil where there is none, and do not see evil where it is (upholding false views) go to states of woe. Those who see wrong as wrong and right as right go to realms of bliss.

• Whatever the faith, all of these agree that there is life after death and we can be comforted knowing that the quality of that life we call death depends on how we live now. Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.

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What is wisdom and knowledge?

The Bible teaches us in James 3:17, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Also, 1 Cor. 1:18-20 says "Wisdom of the wise andĀ the wisdom of the world are two different things."¯ All wisdom comes from God.

All Knowledge comes from God also. The difference is that man's knowledge changes as his understanding changes or when God's knowledge is misinterpreted. An example of this is the theory of evolution. Years ago, the public schools in America taught that the earth was cooling and volcanos were becoming extinct. We see now that volcanic action is increasing. This disproves man's previous knowledge.

The Apocrypha

The Wisdom of Solomon says "wisdom is a loving spirit."¯

Buddhism

Wisdom is that which directs knowledge toward good - toward the creation of value.

Islam

"The basis of wisdom is fear of God. Fear should lead to hope, and hope should lead to love and all of this should ultimately lead to a level of beauteous perfection, where ultimately all things other than God are absent from one's heart.

How do we gain wisdom?

The Bible

Wisdom of God is discerned through the Spirit and not from man.

Buddha

"Therefore, it is when we act with compassion that our life is brought into accord with the universal life force and we manifest our inherent wisdom. Wisdom and compassion are thus inseparable."¯

The Qur'an

"Even as we have sent unto you a messenger from among you, who recites unto you our revelations and causes you to grow, and teaches you the scripture and wisdom, and teaches you that which ye knew not."¯ (Al-Baqarah 2:155)

Catholic

The first and highest gifts of the Holy Spirit. It makes the soul responsive to God in the contemplation of divine things. Where faith is a simple knowledge of the articles of Christian belief, wisdom goes on to a certain divine penetration of the truths themselves.

Milton

In John Milton's literary work, Paradise Lost, he tells of Adam and Eve as they leave the Garden of Eden and enter the world and begin their search for wisdom.

Paraphrasing Milton's poetry, Adam learns that to obey is best, to love and respect (fear) God, and to depend only on God. God is merciful and overcomes evil; that by small and weak things God accomplishes great things, overcoming evil. Suffering for truth's sake will bring the greatest victory and those who remain faithful even to death will gain eternal life. His example was the Redeemer.

An Angel then spoke to Adam (paraphrasing again), Since you have learned and gained all wisdom, hope no higher, but add deeds to what knowledge you have received. Add faith, virtue, patience, temperance, love, and charity which is the center of all the others. Do these things and you will enjoy peace and be happiest.

What is Integrity?

Definition of Integrity in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is

1. Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility

2. An unimpaired condition: soundness

3. The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness

From all areas and religions, we learn that God is the source of all wisdom. Acting upon that wisdom is integrity. A person of integrity does not compromise moral principles, regardless of peer pressure, temptations, trials, or monetary opportunities.

Check your own integrity by answering this question, "Do you maintain your religious beliefs in all situations regardless of what they are?"¯

Wisdom can be gained in different ways but when we have wisdom we can recognize good from evil and act according to our knowledge. We can have knowledge and never use it, or we can misuse it. Wisdom is knowing the right path to take; integrity is taking that path.

It is important to begin each day by being honest with ourselves, and treating others with the same integrity we would like to receive.

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Have you ever seen those people that always appear to be happy? They look like they don't have a care in the world. Envy just comes boiling up inside. If only your life was as carefree as theirs, but your life is anything but carefree, right? What we don't always realize is that everyone has challenges and trials. No one gets through this life on easy street. Understanding what happiness is and how we can learn to control our own happiness should be everyone's goal.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."¯

Happiness is an attitude of the mind. It is an optimism, contentment and a feeling that life is good. It is the warm glow of the heart at peace with itself. It is how we feel when we are living in harmony with high ideals. Basically our happiness or misery depends on what we think and do.

"We create our own happiness."¯ That statement brought back memories to the early 1980s when Don William's song "Lord, I hope this day is good"¯ was popular and I was going through one of those tough times we all have. As I was preparing breakfast for our family, that song played on the radio and afterward I bowed my head and prayed, "Lord, Please make my day good."¯ I really wasn't expecting an answer but I got one anyway, "It is up to you to make your day good."¯

Up until then, I hadn't really thought about it being my own responsibility to make my day good. My happiness was in my own hands, but how?

While pondering and studying about how I could control my happiness, these are some of the things I learned:

• The secret of happiness is not in what we have, but in what we are.

• What a person has is often dependent on others, but what that person is depends only on themselves.

• Living the standards we believe in will bring us happiness.

• We are happy when we are in control of our physical appetites. Habits are a form of bondage.

• Work beings happiness. We can see the results of our efforts.

• Good health brings happiness.

• The beauty of nature brings us joy when we stop to appreciate it.

• Being the best we can and striving to be better brings happiness. This includes being honest with everyone.

• Friends bring happiness, but we must be one to have one.

• Faith is the foundation of everything, including happiness. Develop it.

"There is one thing that should be remembered as we go down the highway of life, namely, that we have the privilege of being happy. I say 'privilege' because happiness comes from living up to the best within us. If we do that, even if we fail in reaching our goal, we can feel content."¯ (David O. McKay)

As my youngest son was going through a tough time in his life he repeatedly listened to Bobby McFerrin's song, "Don't worry, be happy"¯ You can hear it here. It was a crutch he used. Find your own crutch as you increase your level of happiness step by step, one day at a time. Each one of us can learn to be happier as we strive to be the best we can each day.

The post Happiness: Is it really up to me? appeared first on FamilyToday.

Have you noticed how the busiest people are given the most assignments and accomplish the most? It looks like all that work should be spread out a little more, but people have learned that if they want something done they get someone who is always doing something to do it. These people aren't worried about making mistakes. They just do their best and go on to the next project. They know that the biggest mistake is not to make any mistakes.

Do your best

The best you can do is your best. If it is wrong, ask for forgiveness, make any corrections necessary and don't let it drag you down. You must be ready and willing to move ahead, take the initiative and accomplish something. Get out of your comfort zone. Develop personal intuition. Don't be the one who waits on others to initiate an activity. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

Be sensitive

It is necessary to be sensitive to the rights and feelings of others. Without overstepping their authority you can be beneficial to others. When you see someone struggling be the first to take the initiative and get involved.

Be prayerful

Prayer is an essential element in knowing what to do and how to go about doing it. It's important to learn how prayers are answered so you will know when answers are being received. The greater your sensitivity to direction from God, the greater your capacity to know what someone else needs. You can perceive unspoken needs.

Be specific

One woman saw a burned out home of a young family. As so often happens she commented to her husband, "It's too bad we can't do something to help them."¯ Then she realized that they could, if they would just get involved. She went back and offered her help by taking the smoke damaged clothing and linens to her home. She washed, dried, and folded them before returning them to the grateful family. She showed she cared and lifted the spirits of those that were suffering.

If there is a specific service in mind that can be offered, that help will be accepted more readily than a general inquiry, "Let me know if I can help."¯ A general offer rarely results in an opportunity to help.

Think big

Bigger projects take organization. Bigger projects take more people.

When a church leader counseled his congregation to beautify their homes and yards, one family decided to follow his council and work on their yard. They quickly realized that a lot more could be accomplished if everyone in their neighborhood worked together. They visited neighbors and organized the project. Their neighborhood was an inspiration to the whole town.

Think simple

Sometimes taking the initiative and doing something can be as simple as smiling at someone standing in line at the grocery store or letting someone go ahead in line even when it's inconvenient. Give a compliment. Choose to be cheerful and patient. These are small things but can have a huge impact on the people involved.

When time is spent helping others, the one helping becomes the greatest benefactor. You feel better even though you may be dead tired. Your spirit is fed. You learn, gain friends and don't have as much time to dwell on your own problems.

There are countless, worthwhile things that you can accomplish - lifting another's spirits, serving God by serving those around you. Gamble on making a mistake, because it rarely ends up as a mistake. The worst mistake is to not make any.

The post The worst mistake is not to make any appeared first on FamilyToday.

First of all, I need you to understand where I was and where I am spiritually. I am a Christian. I believe in the literal fight between good and evil in the world. I believe in a God that is strict, but understanding and very loving, who knows me personally. I also believe that satan is real and wants me to be as miserable as he is.

I had a loving husband andĀ six children to raise. The oldest was 15 and the youngest about 1 year old. Why would I even think about taking my own life?

We started a family publishing business that required a tremendous amount of work. We also had a convenience store and small motel to run, as well as a large family to raise. I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities. We decided to sell the publishing business. I prayed so hard for a buyer.

It wasn't long before a potential buyer came to discuss the purchase. I was ecstatic. This was the answer to my prayers.

The interview with the prospective buyer was pleasant. We discussed the sale and when he left that night we thought he sounded very positive about buying the business. He stayed in our motel and we waited until the next morning for him to give us his decision.

The next morning the hours ticked by. At 10 o'clock we went to investigate. He left during the night. The bed had never been slept in. I was devastated.

I couldn't work and went to the house to cry. Hard racking sobs. I felt trapped in a situation I couldn't get out of. I felt there was no way out.

I was only thinking of myself. I didn't consider anyone else. I wasn't thinking of my family - my husband or my children - only about being trapped. The business didn't sell. There was no relief in sight.

That's the moment the thought came to me, there was a way out. There were pills I could take that would get me out of an unbearable situation. The bathroom and the pills were only a few feet away. The temptation was strong.

I am so thankful for what happened next. Another thought entered my mind that saved my life. There was another way out of my situation. I realized that my love for my family was the reason I was there in the first place. I chose to stay and keep working at it until something could be arranged to relieve the work load.

That was not the end of the temptation. Satan does not give up easily. I used razor blades daily in my work, trimming columns of print before placing them on paste-up sheets. On bad days, when I was very depressed, the destructive thoughts came. The razor blade was in my hand. It would be easy. They were sharp. It was as though we had a spiritual stare down. My answer was no.

This did not just happen once, but repeatedly over the next few months. Each time I rejected the suggestion, I faced the spiritual showdown again. The suggestion was repulsive. My concern was whether it might wear me down until it became attractive instead of offensive.

Thankfully, that time never came, but it took months before the temptation abated. I learned that there is no sin in temptation, only in acting on the temptation.

I prayed repeatedly for strength, help and guidance. When I got the chance, I studied my scriptures and other faith related materials and attended church.

If you are facing this temptation, know that you are not alone. I believe my experience is a common one, and if so, the temptation will return repeatedly until Satan accomplishes what he set out to do or until he finally realizes that you will not give in.

As a Roman philosopher once said, "While there is life, there is hope."¯

• Realize that suicide is not the only way out of the situation. There is always a way out without killing yourself. You just have to search for it.

• Remove yourself from your situation and look at it from outside yourself.

• Find someone you can confide in and let them know what is happening to you. They may be able to help you see a better way out.

• Pray always! Ask for strength to resist Satan and the wisdom to recognize your possibilities.

• Recognize that if you give in to Satan's promptings you are letting him win.

• Study God's word. Find his love and compassion for you. Attend church.

You know how much you love your family. Well, you are God's child and he loves you with a love that knows no bounds. The Bible tells us that prayer is the way out of Satan's temptations. Believe it. You are stronger than you realize. You can win your battle with Satan.

The post Suicide is not your only option: Find a better way appeared first on FamilyToday.

Gather supplies

Begin by printing out several family group sheets and a pedigree chart. Links to these and other genealogy forms can be found here at no cost.

Start with yourself and fill in your information and then your parents' information. Fill out as much as you know about all the ancestors on this chart. You can purchase a genealogical program for your computer or go online and get one here free.

Find something you can keep your research in, even if only a shoebox. Now start collecting any family records you may have in your home. Birth records, death certificates, newspaper articles, dated pictures, family memorials, scrapbooks - anything that would give you a new clue or verify what you already have. Check these against what you wrote on your chart and fill in all the missing information possible.

Consult living resources

Next start visiting with living relatives. Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Visit older relatives first - or you might miss the opportunity. Even your youngest sibling will have stories you don't know. Be sure and record notes and stories whenever you can. Take notes if recording is not possible. Find out who has already done research on your family. Contact them. Normally genealogists are anxious to share their information.

Sometimes it is hard to get people to start talking. One way to get conversations and memories rolling is to look at photo albums, especially of ancestors. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Names, dates, locations, and how people are related are all needed information. Plan ahead and have questions in mind that you would like to know from each of them.

Capture your evidence

Take pictures, or take a small scanner and laptop with you to record as much as possible for your records. Be sure and take notes as to what each picture and document is. It is distressing to find you don't remember who that picture was or how they are connected. Document as much as possible while you are there. Many times you will never have the opportunity to visit again.

Get more than facts

Don't get just bare facts, get details, and collect stories. Make these people come alive. They are your family, with much the same needs and wants as you, the same faults and weaknesses. When we learn about the trials, tragedies, and victories of our ancestors, it gives us a real sense of gratitude. We learn more about ourselves. We become connected.

As Russell M. Nelson said, "When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves."¯ There are almost as many reasons to start searching your family history as there are people. Whatever the reason that has piqued your interest in finding out about your ancestors, once you start you will never be the same again.

The post Family tree: A first step in genealogy appeared first on FamilyToday.

There are certain things to consider when gardening in containers versus planting in the ground. Here are a few things to consider.

The container

The range of containers that can be used varies from small pots to large containers. Flowerpots, hanging baskets, planter boxes, livestock water troughs, to wooden containers are just a few examples of what can be used. A container gardener is limited only by the imagination. You can add color and texture as well as versatility of design.

The containers should be large enough to contain the plants you intend to put in them. A deep rooted plant needs a deep pot. Three plants in a pot require more room than one plant.

Smaller pots dry out more quickly as well as clay pots that allow moisture to evaporate through the sides. Containers that hold 15 quarts or more dry out slower.

If you live in a hot area or if your pot will be in direct sun for a lot of the day you will want a lighter colored pot. They don't absorb as much heat thus encouraging an even root growth, and decreasing evaporation.

Containers should be set on blocks or something similar to allow for proper drainage. The larger the container the more drainage holes are needed. Holes should be 1/2 inch across. Cover the holes with newspaper or coffee filters to prevent soil loss.

Plastic pots have a short life in sunlight. Wood rots except for redwood and cedar, which will last several years.

The growing medium

Garden soil is not recommended for containers because the particles are so small they compact and it doesn't drain well. Garden soil is also heavier to move around.

Growing medium should drain rapidly but hold enough moisture to keep the roots evenly moist. Commercial potting mixes are a favorite choice because they are lightweight and weed free.

When filling your container leave space at the top for a final layer of mulch. If the growing medium is not damp, add water and mix well before filling the container.

The soil you use is of major importance. A small, inexpensive plant in good soil has a world of potential while an expensive plant in poor soil has little future.

Water and fertilizer

Container plants lose moisture quickly. Some plants will need to be watered daily, especially during hot, dry weather. Stick your finger into the soil one inch deep to see if your pot needs water. If it is dry, it needs water. Give it a deep soaking. Don't over water.

Since frequent watering may leach nutrients from the soil, you may want to fertilize with a diluted liquid every other watering. Using an all-purpose blend of 3 parts Nitrogen: 1 part Phosphorous: 2 parts Potash (Potassium) is the average that plants actually use and is recommended. 24-8-16, 12-4-8, and 9-3-6 are all popular 3:1:2 ratios.

Pruning

Pruning dead limbs or limbs that cross and rub each other are essential to the health and beauty of your garden. Remove all spent flowers to encourage blooming. Clip back to the first leaves so you don't have unsightly bare stems. To make a plant more bushy, pinch the tips out of each branch.

Re-potting

Re-pot your plant if you see roots coming out the drainage holes. It is root bound. Gently tap the sides to loosen. Turn over and remove. Re-pot in a container that is only 1 or 2 inches larger than the one it is in. Add soil in the bottom then around the sides. Water it to settle the new soil.

Sunlight

Sunlight is as important as any of the above requirements but will depend on plant needs. Check to see how much sun your plants need and adjust the container's position so that it will be able to grow to its maximum potential.

Overwintering

Whenever possible move any plant that will not withstand frost inside near a window. If not possible or if you're using terracotta, pottery, or thin plastic containers, you can surround the pot with bubble wrap. Plants can be wrapped in burlap or something similar and covered with a tarp until the danger of frost is past. Whenever possible move to a protected area such as a garage.

If the plants have died, empty the pot, wash and dry, then store it.

Container gardening will allow your family to spend time together, produce food economically, learn the value of work, and connect with nature, even bringing it inside. It allows you to plan for tomorrow.

This is an excellent site for additional information on container gardening.

The post Container gardens: a labor of love appeared first on FamilyToday.

Living in a time where we run to the doctor for the slightest discomfort or illness, it is important to know what to do when doctors are unavailable. Two major concerns are colds and flu, since they are caused by a virus and are not treated with antibiotics. Doctors normally tell us to let it run its course, then treat bacterial infections that are caused by the symptoms of the un-treatable virus.

Natural remedies have been around for thousands of years. Herbs are the oldest form of medicine known to man. King Solomon was reputed to be the wisest man of his time and historians say he was a great herbal physician. Hippocrates was the father of medicine and taught that all disease came from a natural source, and not just the gods.Today, doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, which is named after him.

After the death of Christ, Pedanous Dioscorides published De Materia Medica, which is considered to be one of the most popular medical reference works in the history of mankind. Herbs were used throughout the ages. Today, many of our modern medicines are based on herbs.

There are many herbs to treat the symptoms of cold and flu but the combination of elderberry and peppermint tea is the only remedy I have found. "When in doubt, sweat it out." That's exactly what happens when these two herbs are used in combination.

Elderberry and Peppermint Tea

Take one ounce each of dried elderberry blossoms and dried peppermint leaves and pour 1 quart of boiling water over them. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey.

Adults should drink one pint of this tea as quickly and as hot as possible. Children should drink 1/4 to 1/2 to half the adult doseage.

The rest of the brew should be taken a cup at a time every hour until it is gone. Make sure you cover it well to keep it as warm as possible.

This can be repeated with no ill effects or side effects, whatever your age.

A shower will definately be desired when you finish this treatment.

One year my son, Charles, got sick. He was driving a 16-wheeler and just kept driving until he was so sick he absolutely had to take off work and go to the doctor. The diagnosis was the flu and because it had gotten so bad he wasn't expected to get back to work for quite a while. He said, "Mom, I can't afford to be off work for 2 weeks."¯ He had a young family to support.

I told him about this home remedy and he was ready to try anything. I brewed his tea and then wrapped him up so he could retain the heat. He started to sweat, and sweat, and sweat. To make a long story short. Charles was back to work in 3 days. This made a believer out of him.

Herbs are not difficult to find. Many health food stores carry bulk herbs. If you cannot find them locally, a search of the internet for bulk elderberry flowers will bring up several on-line stores that will be glad to sell both the flowers and the dried peppermint leaves.

The USDA says, "In the middle ages elderberry was considered a Holy Tree, capable of restoring good health, keeping good health, and as an aid to longevity."Ā¯

Knowledge is empowering, and with this new, but very ancient, knowledge you can win the flu battle this season.

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