American Christian Slaughter

Our freedom of speech, religion and beliefs are what we value most in the USA. Over time, we people have been swayed and easily deceived by the eloquent words of man, over the wisdom of God's Word. Our FAITH in Jesus Christ as our ultimate Lord, Ruler and King will be tested.  Now is the time to pray for our enemies, and ask God to deliver us from evil and give us courage and strength to stand firm as we are persecuted.  It is time to watch for what God is doing, and listen to what the Spirit is saying.  It is time to turn from our ways, and step out of our comfort zone...and take action.  Our actions speak volumnes about our trust in God, and where we seek refuge. Please take the time to listen to this interview between Gordon Robertson and Billy Grahams's son. Rev. Franklin Graham: ‘The Storm Is Coming’ For American Christian Persecution

MIDWIFERY at it's BEST

Nurse Dorothy McCauley was Born in Brighton, England and she has three sisters, Paula, Pat and Helen.  This is a picture of Dorothy today with her grandkids.  Her home town of Brighton is an ancient fishing village which emerged as a health resort in the 18th century and grew into one of the largest towns in England by the 20th century. Historically, the Romans built villas throughout Sussex, including a villa at Brighton.  In a twist of fate, after Nurse Dorothy retired from nursing and teaching for Johnson & Johnson in the USA, in 2011 she traveled to Mexico to visit her sister Paula in Ajijic. She was absolutely enchanted by 

the quaint town that grew along the banks of Lake Chapala. Dorothy quickly chose to build her own villa in Ajijic,  another ancient fishing village that has emerged as an Expat Health Resort in Mexico.  Backing up to her interest in health,  when she was just 16, Dorothy entered the general nursing school at St James hospital and graduated in 1961.  She immediately chose to become a Midwife and entered the esteemed Midwery school at Queen Charlottes hospital in London.  The BBC series “Call the Midwife” is actually filmed on the East side of London where Nurse Dorothy visited young mothers and delivered their babies.

Dorothy worked as a Midwife in the early 1960’s and like in the TV series, she too rode a bike with baby birthing tools, including drugs, plastic sheets, gloves, and masks neatly tucked into a black bag that was strapped to the back of the bike.  Once a doctor diagnosed a woman as pregnant, a midwife was assigned. The Midwife began by evaluating the health of the mother and also the needed preparations in the home.  Midwifery duties required monthly visits to the home for the first seven months, and then twice a week visits for the last two months of pregnancy. Midwifery emphasized building family relationships which included counseling the existing children in how their help would be essential after the newborn arrives.  If the father of the child was not out to sea as a merchant

marine, or working long dock hours, the Midwife was taught that she could not depend on the male income provider to take a work leave for the sake of a newborn.  In those days there was no such thing as sick leave. In England, the firstborn must be brought into the world in a hospital.  After the first delivery is made without complications, the second and following children were delivered at home. Delivering babies on the east end of London in large tenant buildings required logistical planning.   Most of the time there was no hot or cold water in the apartment and the toilets were down long hallways.  The Midwife would need a kettle, and privacy for the birth. If the husband was home, it was his responsibility to take care of any other kids. After 

time spent with the Midwife, the sibling kids were giddy with excitement to assist on the big day.   As there was no home phone, (the Teley was outside the building in the red booth) when labor began in the middle of the night, one child was instructed to call the London Bobby.  It was never appropriate for a Midwife to ride her bike, at night on the East side of London.   The alerted Bobby would ring the Midwife dormitory and arrange to escort the Midwife to the distressed mother. Dorothy recounted one tale of such an early morning birth.  She was driven to the apartment and arrived at 3:30 AM.  The mother was in wretched pain, and the father was at work.  Dad got home about 7:30 AM and began to climb into the only bed

in the apartment, right beside his agonizing wife. Dorothy warned him to get out of the bed, he replied “I have been working hard all night and I need my rest”.  Dorothy demanded “and your wife has been in labor all night too” Dorothy returned to the bedside and tossed a bucket of cold water on the man and he got out of the birthing bed!    Dorothy worked as a Midwife for nearly two years and she recalls many interesting situations.   Midwifes in the early 1960’s were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week

without extra duty pay or any overtime. Her salary was only $50.00 per month.   In 1964 Dorothy, Linda and Eunice, all three Midwives’s in England, responded to an advertisement for Midwives in San Jose, California for $395.00 per month plus occasional overtime!  As it turns out the USA was not ready for Midwife Dorothy!  She had a one year contract to work in obstetrics as a Midwife; however, she soon learned that she was hired to simply clean up after the babies were born.  She informed doctors of her medical findings for expectant mothers on the phone,

and before the doctors got out of bed, on three seperate occasions, Nurse Dorothy had delivered three babies!  This had never been done, nor was it appreciated! It turns out the AD Dorothy had responded to was simply a publicity stunt for a new California hospital to have on staff three English trained Midwives. These three bold and courageous women still remain in contact to this day.  Linda now lives in San Francisco and Eunice moved back to England.  Dorothy lives in Ajijic, but she is not retired.  She works as a Nurse at a local orphanage for disabled children and at Casita Montana.  Local doctors consult with her and she still gives public lectures on the problems and solutions for diabetics.  Her humor and Brit wit is a pure delight and she can be found walking her beloved dog “Bonita” along the Malecon in Ajijic.  This story had to be written to honor the sweet care

that Nurse Dorothy continues to administer! Thank you Duchess Dorothy for your 40 years of sacrificial service, your generous heart and tremendous wit! Your husband is blessed to have you by his side and yours truly "Bonita" is certainly the luckiest dog that walks the cobblestones of Lakeside!  After all these years you remain professionally passionate and humbly enthusiastic about profividing great healthcare! Truly, I look forward to some delightful Red Hat luncheons and more laughs! Thank you for being so transparent and sharing your amazing story!   I am simply one genuinely greatful patient that respects your long and wonderful journey! Happy Valentines Day 2015 and the surprise visit from your sister Helen! 

"You've come a long way Nurse Dorothy!"

Counting Blessings in 2014

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Smoking Hot

One year ago today, January 2, 2015 Mike and Barb arrived in Mexico. What a fantastic adventure it has been to move to a new culture, community, country and church!!! Today we celebrate our first year in Mexico with a BBQ in our lushly green patio. Mike was surprised and delighted by his 2014 Christmas gift. A stainless steel grill that is fed fuel from our gas supply tank on the roof! Our Char Broil TRU Infrared gas grill heats up to a smoking hot 700 degrees. Infared energy is comprised of those frequencies beyond visible light. Traditional grills heat with hot air which drys out meats. The Infared energy strikes the food and causes the

molecules to vibrate, and cook meats quickly. Infared is the technology that fine restaurants have used for years. As per directions, we seasoned our grill grates, like a cast iron skillet, this optimized our grills performance. Brushing the meat and grates with peanut oil, we sizzled up a couple of thick pork chops in just 6 minutes!! We enjoyed juicy delicious chops lightly topped with a brush of apple-cinnamon jam, served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and a fresh avacadoe. 2015 will be especially tasty and wonder filled as we now have all our construction projects completed. In 2014 we installed a water purifier system, new wiring, a fireplace, a screened in patio, got the waterfall working, landscaped the front and back patio areas, painted interior and exterior, purchased a new car and established ourselves with a local doctor and dentist as Permanent Residents in Jalisco, Mexico.

DELIGHTED to LAUGH

1. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. PRV 31:25
2. Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” G 17:17
3. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” G 18:12
4. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. JOB 8:21
5. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance  ECC 3:4
6. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. LUKE 6:21

7.      “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them. She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;  she cares not that her labor was in vain, for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.

Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider. “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting?  It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray. It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword. JOB 39  ~ Just as fathers and mothers delight in the laughter of their kids, so does our Father, our Lord Jesus delight in our laughter! A cheerful dispostion

is great for your health. “ A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 ~ The news of gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.  Laughter and giggling at myself, or with others lifts my spirit and gives my Father pleasure.  Share an embarassing moment with someone, rejoice in what strikes you funny!  You know what I am talking about, those times when hilarity got you snorting and unable to speak without bursting into tears.  JOY comes in the morning, the evening, or anytime during the day, if you allow it!  During your next laugh fest, talk to God and give Him thanks for your funny bone!  God has a sense of humor,  He created us with the ability to laugh in situations that might cause the lost to worry or cry. WHY, because we have HOPE in the One who is unseen, and in the future He promised.  Laughter is good medicine for the soul, cuz the Holy living Word of God says so!  

Oh wonderful  Father, I thank You for laughter, Joy, and Peace. Thank You Lord for creating us to laugh that we can be refreshed in the midst of difficult times. (Psalm 30:5 ) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning!”  Lord my goal is to delight in You and give You great pleasure, in my obedience to LAUGH more and worry less!  If I could see myself as You see me, I certainly would lighten up and LAUGH at the days to come!  Thank You for filling us with Your Joy, and I ask that it overflows into the lives of those You bring into my space!  Lord let our laughter be an encouragement to all! In Jesus name I pray, Amen 

RUMINATE THE JOY

Are you a happy or a sad person? Where does your mind tend to go automatically?  Do you rejoice in your past victories, or do you continually mull over what you should have done? Emotional disorders such as depression, anxiety and self-hate are associated with a heightened sense of regret. People with high neuroticism – are those with the tendency to return to the negative, the bad experience.  NOT forgetting the past, and looking forward to employing lessons learned, their minds go up and down like a merry-go-round of what SHOULD have been. There is a brain map, a groove created by positive and negative memories. We must decide to interrupt the pattern of sad thinking in order to positively change our mood. People MUST choose to get off the roller coaster and walk with determination to NOT repeat their sad story, in their mind, or to other ears. People use effective strategies to regulate their emotions when calling to mind sadly negative auto-biographical childhood memories. Choosing to capture each thought and creatively re-framing it while seeking a NEW perspective is healthy. There is a blessing, a lesson from God tucked inside each experience. Choosing to NOT be a victim, we thank God for His way of building character in us.  We remember Him and all He suffered and we count our blessings. Common lessons found in hardship are:  patience, endurance, increased faith, and the SERENITY found in CONTENTMENT in this world, as it is, NOT as I would have it. It is GOOD or BAD according to our FREE CHOICE.  Letting go of the past, and expecting better things today, with HOPE for a greater eternal destiny, this choice gives troubled people peace and joy. Research finds a marked improvement for depressed people who work to challenge each negative memory.  Analysis of clinical studies revealed that both men and women who were high in extroversion (gregarious, assertive, stimulus-seeking) tended to remember more positive than negative life events. Neurotic people recall a greater proportion of bad memories and their minds are stuck in returning to the same negative memories again and again, a process called rumination. Rumination is known to be associated with depression. Depressed people maintain negative memories and as a result they feel sad. Feeling sad increases the tendency to have more negative memories. It is a vicious circle. None of the study subjects were diagnosed with depression, however, both male and female participants were likely to experience a lower mood after recalling negative autobiographical memories. Previous research has shown that being able to call up concrete, detailed memories that are positive or self-affirming can help to boost positive mood for people with a history of depression. SIMPLY PUT without extensive clinical research MEMORIZE this scripture and PRACTICE or RUMINATE on it daily. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! ~ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:1-9 ~ Sad people are encouraged to increase current social activity to replace old memory patterns. PLAN a happy event to RUMINATE in the future.  PRAISE God in ALL things ALWAYS, I say it again, seek God with all your heart, and you will find Him in the midst, beckoning you "Come to Me all ye who are heavy ladened and I will give you rest!" AMEN

Chapala to Puerto Vallarta

Mikey liked driving Suzie through GUAD at 5:00 AM to Nogales/Tepic on HWY 15 to miss the traffic.  All LEFT LANES through GUAD until you see the RIU hotel on the right. GET INTO RIGHT LANE.  EXIT to DETOUR 15D to Puerto Vallarta. Drive in right hand lane along 15 frontage road, past the RIU. RIGHT turn at LIGHT when GPS speaks. GET in LEFT lane, follow to the dead end, turn LEFT onto 15 D to PV.  AGAIN stay in LEFT lane towards JALA, NAYARIT.  Pass through (3) toll roads for total fees of 250 pesos one way.  Follow EXIT 15D to HWY 200 to Chapallia.  OXXO rest and bathroom stop.  Follow 200 to Compostela. Follow signs to Puerto Vallarta.  Through PV on 200, at the end of the city park, turn left, then follow road until you see LIBRAMIENTO, turn LEFT --- then RIGHT at the LIGHT, over bridge to GARZA. Life is great, retirement in Mexico makes road trips to exotic places a treat! More terrific adventures with friends coming up in November and December, we are thrilled to practice Spanish as we delight in this rich culture.
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