GOD KNEW I NEEDED YOU

Sunday, April 26, 2026

ASSASSINATION SHOTS FIRED AT THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER

The obamanites just are not going to give up until they actually murder him …

It's seriously 💩 demonic 👿 to hate 🖤 someone so much.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, along with members of the cabinet, were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner by Secret Service:  
(https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dowJIww9olg)

Cole Allen, 31, was identified by authorities as the suspect, noting he outlined his intent in a manifesto and shared disparaging rhetoric against President Trump and Christians on social media.

Would-be assassin.

Allen is a 31-year-old from Torrance, Calif., and is a professional game designer with a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, according to the The Associated Press.

He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology.

Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, according to police. He had traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then Chicago to Washington, D.C.

{{Trump says "it's a dangerous profession" after shots fired at dinner

~Story by Kathryn Watson

President Trump told reporters Saturday night that he wanted the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner to go on after he was evacuated when shots rang out at the hotel where the event was taking place.

The suspect, who is in custody and was being evaulated at a hospital, has been identified by three law enforcement sources as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance California. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation is "ongoing," and charges will be filed "shortly."

The president said one Secret Service agent was struck by a round but was protected by a bulletproof vest. 

Mr. Trump said he was "very far away" when the shots were fired and said the suspect "hadn't come anywhere close to breach the doors of the room." 

Asked if he was concerned about the threats to his life, Mr. Trump said, "It's a dangerous profession." 

Mr. Trump released photos of the suspect and a clip of security video of the incident, "showing the violence of this thug that attacked the Constitution, and also showing how quickly Secret Service and law enforcement acted." 

The evacuation occurred just after 8:30 p.m. ET after the sound of gunfire sent attendees scurrying and ducking under tables. Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were whisked off the stage by Secret Service agents. 

The suspect had a shotgun and handgun on him, according to two sources familiar with the investigation. 

Mr. Trump said he "heard a noise" and thought it was a "tray going down." 

"But it was a gun," the president said. "And some people really understood that pretty quickly, other people didn't. I was watching to see what was happening, probably should have gone down even faster. Melania was very cognisant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened." 

"We were whisked away, along with other people, but we were really whisked away," he added. 

The suspect told law enforcement following his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS News. The suspect didn't specifically say he was targeting Mr. Trump, just "administration officials," another law enforcement source said.     

One officer was shot but "saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun," the president said. "The vest did the job."

The president said he spoke with the officer, and described him as being in good spirits.

"This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press," the president said. "And in a certain way it did. Because the fact that they just unified, I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see." 

Mr. Trump said the event would be rescheduled within the next 30 days. He added that he "fought like hell" to keep the event going, but law enforcement insisted otherwise. 

White House Correspondents Association president and CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Mr. Trump what he was feeling when it occurred, particularly after he was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania. Mr. Trump said "it's always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes."

Mr. Trump also addressed political violence, saying "no country is immune."

"It comes with the territory," he said. 

"We have to, we have to resolve our differences," Mr. Trump said. "I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives. Those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they're not. But yet everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd, there was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I watched, I watched, and I was very, very impressed by that."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-its-a-dangerous-profession-after-shots-fired-at-dinner/ar-AA21Jpm5?ocid=BingNewsSerp }}

SEASONS; Castle Rock-WA

Some seasons call us to stand firm, and others call us to surrender. May we have the wisdom to know the difference, the courage to obey, and the peace to trust what God is doing in both.

Richard Marx - 'Right Here Waiting' song: 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_E2EHVxNAE&list=RDS_E2EHVxNAE&start_radio=1&rv=p3-8TVK_D-I)

I understand that the world does not revolve around me, & that I can make my own peace: I don't have to depend on others around me to be at peace. But if the trade off is snarky chaos and downright disrespect being tolerated … I will cut that thread off, without a twinge of guilt. The world may not revolve around me - but I don't have to allow it to spiral out of control & keep me perpetually off-balance, either.

I talked with Elohim, "Thank You for this man, You placed in my Life. Please help Holland to find his way to You, so he can find his way home. You brought Holland's decades-old-vision into being … and against my will, You made sure we met: You made space in my heart to welcome what he was bringing to me. He is a good man, and in many ways he is good for me -  and I know I'm good for him. He knows I'm good for him. We need a healing alignment, Father. We need direction for where to go from here - and how to get there. I want my husband home, Father: but I want him home wholly & fully. I want him healed of the angsts that bedevil him day and night. So, help him find his way to You, where he can find rest in body, soul, and spirit. I love You, Father - help my husband to understand and accept that kind of love depth. And we will trust You to help us to live it fully, until the set time You call us Home."

We both know that neither one of us are going anywhere: I married for "for better, or worse" with the full understanding of married life ups & downs, & Holland has finally stopped threatening divorce every time he wants to get his own way, due to his lack of married life knowledge. Yes, we are currently separated, a.g.a.i.n. … but this time I'm stepping back, leaving the gate open, and trusting Elohim to break that ridiculous destructive cycle in my husband's life - so he can fully start to live unfettered by [family] nonsense. There is no shame in being a gentle man; no condemnation in being a present husband; no meaningful insight shared at outside tables. Breaking the cycle has to be his choice - not not just a temporary cooling of the heels, done because he wants to pacify me: no one is happy with a percolating Band-Aid fix. The underlying problem has got to be dealt with to allow for a healing that goes beyond the Band-Aid stage.


In the meanwhile, I'll be here - restructuring & rebuilding my Life, in my little Home that holds memories of both husbands. I'm doing what's best for me right now, and I don't care what others think about it; I've never cared what others thought: peace matters more than appearances.

My home is paid for: space rent includes water & garbage costs - electricity is separate. It's pretty comparative to what I was paying monthly at Heron Point, before remarriage … and Quartzsite-AZ, every 6 months: very easy to maintain with my limited income. It's definitely more affordable than CA with it's insane water & electric fees.

My 400 sq. ft. home is a snap to clean; and when Holland is not underfoot, cleaning is easy-peasy.

My home is surrounded by shady trees; trails to walk, explore, and enjoy - the seasons change, and so does the landscape & the neighbors. It's never boring.

My Life, my lifestyle, and the purpose of both - suit me fine:

And tomorrow, if the rain holds off, I'll walk one of those trails: cloudy I can work with - rain will keep me indoors.

Weekly weather forecast.
Set my fancy camera to recharging.

I ate a light supper & posted a few Blog Posts to a couple Blog Hops, & saw that my blue-striped crochet Hot Pad Set had been featured on 'Two Chicks & A Mom' Blog … as well as a posting on Emotional Well-Being, written and accepted for her regions local agency that advocates for abuse victims: it was well-written, informative, and easily applicable - so, I lifted it and am reposting it, here, on my Blog Page with a link back to her Page:

MOD Hot Pad Set, was featured.
The hostess' article~twochicksandamom

{{DAILY PRACTICES FOR EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

~By Donna Wirthlin, M.Ed, BSN, RN; Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Life can be hectic on a good day (or in a good year).  Along comes 2020 and even more chaos and distress present itself in the forms of: depression, anxiety and worry, uncertainty, fear, loneliness and more.  While we cannot control certain aspects of life and what may or may not happen, we can strive to maintain or improve our own Emotional Wellness.  By doing so, we can strengthen our ability to face challenges and keep a positive outlook.  Included below are techniques that may be of assistance to you in having robust Emotional Wellness.

⦁ Reduce stress.  Stress can be good (as in the “Fight or Flight” effect) or bad (as in worrying at 3 a.m. about a situation that has little likelihood of happening).  Stress is a physiological response and if ongoing, chronic stress can lead to health issues (heart disease, poor sleep, weight gain, memory problems, etc.).  Try these practices to lessen stress levels:

⦁ Rethink negative relationships.  Do you have a friend or even a distant relative who is often quick to criticize, “one up” you, or compete with you?  If that causes you stress, anxiety, or self-doubt, then distancing from that person may be the best thing to do.  Could it be a co-worker? Interact only as you need to.  Reflect on how some relationships cause you to feel about yourself and decide which ones are worth saving and which ones aren’t positive or beneficial in your life.  Be kind if possible but no one ever said we have to be friends with everyone!

⦁ Learn to say “no”.  We have all been told this before but how many of us really practice it?  Sure, it’s nice to be asked and considered to be an asset or helpful to a person or cause but if taking on another task, time-commitment, or responsibility that will cause you stress (there’s that word again), it won’t do you any good.  Do what you can or do what you are passionate about for others but make sure you consider the request before you say “yes”.  Of course, we all have responsibilities such as work and family so “no” does not always apply.

⦁ Get adequate, quality sleep.  Sleep, or the lack of, can affect our emotional wellness, or physical wellness, and even our relationships.  According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep “is vital to your well-being” (“Emotional wellness checklist,” pg. 1) and adequate sleep can improve our performance throughout the day and maintain or improve our health. A big part of our day concerns sleep hygiene (good sleep practices).  NIH suggests individuals:

⦁ Go to bed and get up at about the same time each day

⦁ Sleep in a dark, quiet, cool area

⦁ Exercise daily 

⦁ Limit use of electronics, especially in the last hour or two before going to bed

⦁ Take time to relax (meditate, read a book, sit quietly)

⦁ Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, or other stimulants late in the day

⦁ Consult your healthcare provider if you continue to have issues with sleep

⦁ Be more positive.  Being positive isn’t easy for everyone-it seems some people are just born with a negative mindset.  There is hope, though.  You can change your outlook to be more positive but it will take some doing.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of “talk therapy” in which you have a limited or pre-determined number of sessions with a therapist or psychologist.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “CBT helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way,” (n.d.).  If you aren’t ready for therapy just yet, some other practices to consider include:

⦁ Forgive yourself—no one is perfect!

⦁ Reflect on the good that you have done

⦁ Spend time with people you care about 

⦁ Develop healthy habits

⦁ Spend time doing hobbies you enjoy or learning new things

⦁ Volunteer (animal shelter, soup kitchen, helping a neighbor)

⦁ Minimize/Live within your means.  I placed these two practices together as there is a correlation between the two.  Did you know that when you have too much clutter in your home or office, it can add stress?  According to Whitbourne (2017), “clutter, physical and mental, can interrupt your flow—both your ability to move and your ability to think. It turns out that your well-being could also become victim to what we might call the “clutter effect.” By setting aside time to delete emails, sort through mail and papers, clean out a closet or room, you can lessen the stress that you feel from being overwhelmed by stuff.  You don’t have to spend a great deal of time at once decluttering or minimizing—spend 15 minutes each evening till your closet is less crowded.  Spend a weekend cleaning out the garage.  Small steps can add up to more emotional peace.  Before you buy something new, ask yourself if you really need that?  Will you wear it enough to justify the cost?  Do you need another figurine to sit on a shelf?  Or, if you must, buy a new item but give away or sell one you already have to make room.  

How does minimizing your belongings fit with “live within your means”?  By staying within our monthly income, we can reduce the stress that being in debt can bring.  Reducing stress leads to a higher level of Emotional Wellness.  Some costs can’t be helped such as rent or mortgage payment, car payment, or insurance but by staying within a budget and setting aside savings each month or payday, one can reduce the amount of stress and financial burden in life.  Now the fun part: as you declutter and minimize your physical belongings, you can sell some of those items and add to your own financial wellness.  Look around your home and decide what you can part with and then find a platform to sell on (yard sale, local classifieds, eBay, Poshmark, etc.).  Use the money that you earn to pay down a bill or save for something special.  You might be surprised how decreasing the amount of items you own can decrease your stress level.

In closing, Emotional Wellness is as important to our wellbeing as our physical health.  By caring for our emotional self, we can facilitate having a higher quality of life and have less negative stress in affecting us.

https://twochicksandamom.blogspot.com/2026/04/daily-practices-for-emotional-wellness.html }}

Saturday, April 25, 2026

VENEZUELAN BEEF LIVER & ONIONS Recipe; Castle Rock-WA

Liver was on tonight's menu docket - I've been so tired, I thought a meal of fried liver would be the thing to boost my poor Rh-Negative blood. But, I wanted to try a new recipe 👨‍🍳 … so I went online, and found this ethnic meal recipe to add a little exotic pep to my otherwise normal Day.

I chose to serve Rice-A-Roni Spanish Rice as my side dish.

The whole meal was safely inside my calorie allowance 😃

Venezuelan Beef Liver & Onions

Venezuelan Beef Liver and Onions ~6 servings

2 c. milk * 3 TBSP. Olive Oil * 3 Garlic cloves, minced * 1-1/2 lb. Beef Liver, sliced into strips * Salt & Pepper to taste * 1 TBSP. Butter * 3 Onions, sliced into thin rings * 1/2 c. White Wine * Parsley, fresh chopped * Cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed veggies as side dishes

1 Lrg. Skillet * 1 Lrg. Cooking Spoon, slotted * 1 Lrg. Kitchen Tongs * Kitchen Scissors * 1 Gal-size Ziploc * Foil * Pyrex Measuring Cup * 1 Med. Glass Bowl * Supper Dishes & Silverware


1) Place milk in the Ziploc; add meat & refrigerate for a couple hours.

Soak meat in milk; this will make the liver less pungent.

In about 2 hours, remove liver from milk & pat dry (pour milk down drain). With scissors, half the liver slices & cut the meat into strips; set aside.

Meal Ingredients.

2) Place the skillet over med-high heat; pour olive oil into it; add garlic & with slotted kitchen spoon sauté until lightly browned and fragrant - stirring frequently to keep from burning.

Olive oil …
Sauté garlic.

Add liver strips (working in batches if necessary); season with salt and pepper & fry until browned on both sides. With slotted spoon, remove from the skillet to medium-sized bowl & set aside.

Liver strips; fry until browned on both sides.
Liver strips; fry until browned on both sides.
Remove meat from skillet; set aside.

3) Place butter to the skillet & add onion rings - sauté until translucent & softened.

Add onion rings to skillet: cook until translucent & softened.

Add liver pieces back to the skillet. Pour wine over everything & cook until wine is reduced by half: about 5 minutes.

Add wine and cook until wine is reduced by half.

4) Sprinkle with parsley & serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed veggies.

Serve with side of choice.

The liver was very good - definite repeat.

The rice, not so much: a little too salty for my taste; but it was on hand & it was reasonably quick. 

Friday, April 24, 2026

JUST SOME THOUGHTS; Castle Rock-WA

April 23rd: I woke up to bird song 🎶 … and spotted a robin in the front yard; the grounds keeper had been around to mow the grass the other day & it's been raining off and on, here - the robin was probably finding wiggly snacks laying around; as worms came to the surface flushed out by the rain, or lured out by the mower vibrations.

While my morning cup of joy juice ☕️ was dripping into my coffee mug, I looked in the mirror while brushing my hair, and instantly regretted it: I looked rough 😕 I haven't been sleeping much - apparently I had been coughing pretty hard while sleeping; I saw by my mirrored reflection that there were strain marks on my face, around my eye socket area & upper cheekbone area. WA weather 🤧 is raising hell with my asthma: my lungs are strained, draining mucus has irritated my throat & keeps my stomach so upset that food no longer appeals, my ribs ache with the constant coughing, and my solar battery is so freaking low 🥱 that I'm sleeping my life away 😴 My poor body needs some sunshine 🌞

This entire week has been moving forward in slow mode 🐌

Around noon, Holland showed up with a bagged lunch: he'd been out and about and said he felt guilty eating his taco salad without me … so, he brought me one, saying he was also worried about my breathing issues. I thanked him & put the salad in the 'fridge for later, if my stomach would accept the food. He saw the strain marks: I told him I was struggling, but not enough to be seriously concerned. I have my Asthma Check Flow Meter & a couple inhalers: I'll be fine … and I'll live as long as Elohim ☝️ graces me. I've been managing my environmental asthma long before he was in the picture - especially during those solo lobo widowing years when there was no one but me to be concerned whether I lived or died. I know what to do. I learned how to rely solely on myself & how to beat back the crouching fear of solo lobo "what if's" - I'll breathe as long as Elohim grants me life extensions. I'm not afraid. It was kind of him to be concerned 🦁, but I don't want to be a burdensome responsibility.

He stayed for a bit, talking. Eventually the talk settled on Lana & her importance in his life. I don't care that he's known her since childhood. I don't care that she's his SIL. What I care about, is that he places entirely too much importance on her. Period. His first wife was Lana's sister & that ended disastrously … probably for the same reasons this marriage of his is floundering: Lana, and her place in his life … which no doubt led & is leading to alienation of affection. He is discussing with Lana what should be & needs to be discussed with his Wife; the woman who is living with him and banking on sharing a life with him. He can't seriously hope to build a life with wife he does not fully share his life with. Discussions about his home life, his health, waffling about choice decisions, ect. needs to be done with the wife - not the SIL.

I know 💯 that Holland is not physically cheating on me. But faithfulness goes beyond the physical - it also involves emotions & spirituality: both, of which, are pretty sketchy with him 🤔 at the moment.

Alienation of affection.

It's a real thing.

And it causes real damage 💔

Loyalty involves keeping everything home … including convo's - if you're taking it somewhere else, you're breaking trust 🤨

And trust is hard to repair.

If & when he comes back home, he'll have to leave Lana & [the family] alpha male interpretation of Wife and her {place} behind. Faaaar behind.

There is no place in my life for a man who thinks like andrew tate or mark driscoll - I may agree with those two that American men need to toughen up & stop being feminizedbut, that's where I draw the line. I do not want the toxicity of warped masculinity in my life, or my home. Both males teach a wrong-minded version of manhood that elevates subjugation of women to the point of making them a little higher on the totem pole than a dog - and basically thinks it's okay to treat them like glorified whores, than equal partners in marriage.

The world has andrew tate … and charismatic mega "churches" have mark dricoll. Both are dangerous threats to both the male population, and the female population.

Neither mindsets will work with me. It is apparent, listening to those 2 boneheads flap their yaps, that both have serious issues with women - and those angry viewpoints are what both boneheads have built their careers on: andrew tate was raised by his mother, and is a recent muslim convert caught in the grip of blame-shifting angst - his angry, degrading remarks about women, tell you all you need to know about how he views the female population; mark driscoll's background is murky with varying claims stating he was born in WA State or North Dakota; born into a roman catholic family - or traveling the USA with evangelical evangelist parents; raised in a highly dysfunctional family in a rough Seattle-WA neighborhood … or living as a gypsy pastor's kid, on the road traveling from to place; had an affair that led to his demotion in the church he founded in Seattle, or is faithfully married to a woman who enjoys being treated as a brainless twit to sexually serve a man with caveman tendencies as they preach on "reflecting the values of love, faith, and dedication" - it seems that mark driscoll is a very complicated person living a lie, no matter what side of the fence he is standing on. ALL of his sermons are dedicated to angrily listing all the evils of the female  population while encouraging the male sector to raise up and take control; to "put women in their place". Always couched with a sexual conveyance, tickling the ears of similarly angry males with a bone to pick & holding a grudge. At some point in adulthood, one has to stop blaming their parents and start taking responsibility for their own choices in how they view life and choose to live it.

Every person was created with a specific purpose.

Every person was given a life to live that will bring that specific purpose to fruition: a cookie cutter interpretation, based on personal experiences is not workable for everyone … and has no place in the pulpit, where the Word is to be taught absent of self, and laser-focused on Elohim, alone.


It seems our conversations always come back to the same subjects: misinterpretation of The Word - and a lopsided importance of family loyalty. He gets frustrated 🤨 & I get a migraine headache 😩

He wants an immediate fix - with little to no change on his end 🤠😎 & I want a fix that includes stable 💞 & long-lasting change 🤝💎 that will go the distance 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Yari Levy; Translation matters; a lot can get lost~Geneisis 2.18.
Yari Levy - Was Eve Just Adam’s Assistant?
(https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-DiUFExi_m4)

Leaving, he said, "I know God's working on cleaning up, and polishing, my rough edges. I'm in this thing for the long haul, but learning to bend sucks."

I agree.

But bending is better than breaking. I'm going to honor the pledge I made before Almighty God - it won't be easy, but I'd rather struggle with this marriage; than struggle against Elohim.

The [Why] text to answer a friend's PM

For myself, I'm practicing mindful activities - most important now is mindfully keeping my angina & asthma symptoms in check. Neither are curable conditions, and I've come to peaceful mindset about both conditions. I don't want to be stressed out all the time - it's not good for me, on any level. And I don't want someone worrying over me 24/7/365, overly concerned about my mortality; it's true I do have life-threatening issues, but I don't want someone hovering over me - constantly worried about my next breath, or a missed heart palpitation: I am aware of both, I've lived with both all my life, and heightened concern is an added stress I really don't appreciate. I want to live my life as fully as I can, enjoying every savored breath. Feeling alive with every heart beat. Living in the moment without regret & hopeful for another moment.

I don't entertain fear & I don't want my life weighed down by anyone else's fear. I understand my husband's concerns … but I don't want to live my life shadowed by fearful fallout of his siblings' drug-related deaths. I don't play with my Life. I don't live riskily. I would like to enjoy my Life with my husband - aside form [family] entanglements that are making happiness hard to hang on to.

Anyhoo …

In the meantime, I'm doing what I have to do; and enjoying the peace.

Herbs and natural dietary supplements. Many people use herbs, plants, and supplements, especially Chinese herbs, to treat asthma. It’s not clear how well many of them work. More research is needed on supplements like magnesium and fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids). But vitamins C, D, and E may help lower the risk of symptoms.

Asthma diet. Learning & avoiding trigger foods may also help with some asthma symptoms.

Lean diet. Several studies have found benefits for people with asthma who follow the Mediterranean diet 👨‍🍳🥘🥧🍲🥣🥗 It involves lots of fruits 🍋🥥, vegetables 🧄🥔, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil. You eat more fatty fish 🐟 and poultry 🥚🍗 than red meat 🥩 Experts think this diet helps with asthma symptoms because it helps fight inflammation in your body.

A similar eating plan 📝 called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) may also improve asthma control.

The Mediterranean diet is a smart template for healthy, low-inflammation eating, and it may lower your cortisol levels. A Mediterranean diet focuses on healthy fats and plant-based eating:

Plenty of fruits and vegetables

Beans, lentils and nuts

Whole grains, like whole-wheat bread 🍞🥖 and brown rice

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) as your primary cooking and dressing oil 

Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids

Cheese and yogurt in moderate amounts

Protein from chicken 🍗, turkey 🦃, fish 🐟, and beans

Little to no red meat 🥩

Little to no sweets 🍪🍫🍣🧁🎂🍰 🍩, sugary drinks ☕️🍵, or butter

Wine only in moderation 🍷🍾 (or not at all)

Weight loss. Most people who have extra pounds carry them in the middle of their body. This can make it harder for your lungs to work ⚕️🌬️ Losing weight can improve lung volume and lower your chances of conditions that make asthma worse, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It may also make exercise easier tea 🏋️‍♀️🧘 , which could improve your asthma symptoms.

Stress management. Emotional stress 🤷‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️ may also contribute to a weaker immune system 🛌, increasing the risk of respiratory complications 🩺

Caffeine. Caffeine ☕️ is a mild bronchodilator, which means it helps open your airways 😁 Studies 🧐📝 have found that it may improve airway function in people who have asthma.

Breathing exercises. Stress may trigger asthma symptoms. Breathing exercises 🌬️ have been found to help some people with asthma control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger.

Go outside - studies show that just 20 minutes in green spaces 🌳🍃🌷 outdoors; such as parks, or woods, can significantly lower your cortisol levels.

There’s no specific "cortisol diet," but there are diet patterns you can adopt 👌 for nutritious eating to help reduce inflammation and slow cortisol production in your body. Research shows 🧐📝 that certain types of foods can help lower cortisol, such as:

Foods high in magnesium: avocados, bananas, dark chocolate 🍫🍣, broccoli, and spinach

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids: fish 🐟 (anchovies, salmon, tuna), chia seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts

Foods that promote a healthy gut: Greek yogurt, kombucha, and sauerkraut

A diet high in high-sugar foods and drinks, alcohol, and caffeine can spike your cortisol levels. 

Exercise daily. Boost your aerobic fitness 👟⏱️🏋️‍♀️ 

Get plenty of restful sleep 😴

The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a heart-healthy ❤️🩹 eating plan 🍽️ designed 🧐📝to lower blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health ⚕️

The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy, while limiting saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium. It was developed to help prevent or treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and may also reduce LDL cholesterol, a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The diet is flexible, does not require special foods, and can be adapted to individual calorie needs.

Fruits and Vegetables: Rich in potassium, magnesium, and fiber, which help regulate blood pressure.

Whole Grains: Provide fiber and essential nutrients while supporting heart health.

Lean Proteins: Includes fish 🐟, poultry 🥚🍗🦃, beans, and nuts.

Low-Fat Dairy: Fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Limited Sodium: Standard DASH allows up to 2,300 mg of sodium per day, while a lower-sodium version restricts intake to 1,500 mg 🧂 per day. 

Reduced Saturated Fat and Added Sugar: Minimizes fatty meats 🥩, full-fat dairy, and sugary foods 🍪🧁🎂🍰 🍩 

Lowers Blood Pressure: Effective within weeks of adherence.

Supports Heart Health: Reduces risk of heart disease ❤️ and stroke.

Weight Management: Can aid in weight loss when combined with calorie control.

Metabolic Benefits: May lower risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and certain cancers ⚕️

Overall Nutrient-Rich: Provides potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein essential for long-term health. 

Portion Control: Follow daily and weekly serving recommendations based on calorie needs.

Meal Planning: Incorporate fruits and vegetables into every meal 🍽️📝; choose whole grains over refined grains.

Cooking Methods: Bake, broil, or poach lean meats; avoid frying.

Sodium Awareness: Check nutrition labels and limit processed foods; use herbs and spices instead of salt.

Flexibility: No need to eliminate treats entirely 😊; focus on overall dietary pattern 👍

The DASH diet is suitable for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure or at risk for cardiovascular disease, and can be maintained as a long-term, sustainable eating style for overall health.

I checked a couple of Blog Hops - most of the hostesses I've known via the airwaves for decades; sometimes I have something to contribute - sometimes, I just scroll through the posts reading. This afternoon, I noticed that one of my patterns had been featured on a Blog Hop:

My Floribunda Coffee Coaster was featured on 'My Wee Abode' Blog.

And, I'm continuing to work on my PTSD triggers - the best way I know, is to eliminate them entirely; which is tricky 🙄 when you're married to one of those triggers 🤨

Smalltown Boy - 'Bronski Beat': 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5i2Wa7daDA&list=RDE5i2Wa7daDA&start_radio=1)

Burn away preconceived notions.

Burn away words that would steal your joy.

Burn away assumptions. 

Burn through fears that others try to place on you.

Burn away ego.

Burn away doubt that others try to place on you.

Burn away beauty standards that are unrealistic - I am reminded that I need a new cache of makeup; updated, & fresher to fit the gray hair I now wear.

Burn through the lack of self worth others try to force on you.

Burn away the projections of others.

Burn the bridges to ones that you always showed up for - but who never showed up for you.

Burn your heart so bright that every breath you take you hold great gratitude for yourself and your mighty journey. 

Burn bright dear one.

The collective needs you: while it is true that we all have our own row to hoe and our own journey to walk - it  is also true that none of us is an island. All of our lives are, in some way, all intertwined. We learn from each other. We strengthen each other from our Life Lessons.

The Day's coffee infusion sated, lunch taken care of, a visit enjoyed, a settling of a personalized health undertaking, decided … I went back to bed: my thoughts were reined in, and my poor body was totally exhausted by even the simplest motion of activity.

Staying alive is hard work.