The Ripple affect

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

This was written in 2014…

Have you ever gone back to a decision that was made and analyzed how it affected your life?  What type of ripple it made in this world, not only yours but others as well?  I was thinking about this today because I have been asked to speak to some teenage girls on my life as a teenager.

At the age of 13 my dad died of a massive heart attack, needless to say that affected me greatly, especially at that time.  Being a teenager, without a father, with a lot of hurt and anger= stupid decisions.  

Up until the time he died, I was the apple of his eye, he was always there.  He went to every game, helped me with school, supported me in dance and everything else I did.  We used to spend every weekend in the summer up north together as a family on the lake.  What a great time I had growing up.  And then, all of a sudden, God took him from me, at least that’s the way I saw it.  I blamed Him for everything, instead of turning to Him for everything.  I was, as the old song goes, “looking for love in all the wrong places”.   Looking for fulfillment in everything but Him, the only one  that can actually fulfill me.  What a sad state to be in.  

Remembering my teenage years, I felt alone, yet strong.  Insecure, yet arrogant. Bull headed, yet scared.  Wow what a time of crazy emotions, and trying to find out who I was.  The main problem was I was going through all of this “alone”.  At least in my state of mind I was.  I blamed God, and without Him, what else is available?  I had a Father who loved me, but I turned from Him.   From my teenage years through my mid twenties, I was searching.  Searching for what?  Answers…  Answers to all my questions that most teenage girls, who grew up without a father, or an absent father would have.  Will someone love me?  Am I good enough?  Am I not worthy? Why do I feel that I need to do these things to feel loved?

 

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A newborns story

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

Sitting and listening with tears streaming down my face. Hearing others “emotions” around me feeling the same way. Why is it affecting me so?

This story being shared about an infant of whom I have prayed for months for. A grandfather with such a way with words sharing “their” story that it brings you into the world of a family experiencing a great loss. Yet there is so much love… so much peace… so opposite of what I have felt when I have lost a loved one, someone so close to me, a part of my family.

As I delve deeper into my own questions of “why” I hear answers from my Pastor, the grandfather who just lost his precious granddaughter a few days earlier. He speaks of how God has a perfect plan that he using us “imperfect” people for, that He is using his granddaughter for. That God is and acts out His word all… the….time… That He is faithful to us. We may not understand at the time why things like this happen. God has an intricate plan and maybe he gives us a glimpse at the time of hardship or loss of why we’re going through something, or maybe He doesn’t. But in the case of this beautiful baby he did, He pulled the curtain back a little, for this beautiful family to see God’s graciousness and perfect plan, and to show us EVERYONE lives a life, long or short, and dies for a reason. It’s not for nothing, but for something, something big.

And what is the ultimate gift that can be given to anyone? That anyone can accept? JESUS… just Him. To know Him, to trust Him, to love and be loved by Him, and to live with Him and our Father for all eternity. And this is the beginning of little Anabelle’s story, she gave a gift to someone through her own death, and that was Jesus. Can there be anything in life greater than that?

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Homeschooling through a renovation, OY VEY!

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

I could totally see if we were the type of homeschooling family who brought school into home how this would make me crazy!  I mean renovating with 4 kids running around, and having to use our resource room (school room) as an “everything room” how would we get everything or anything done?  But were not “that”.  We are a relaxed/unschooling family, and I think the key word is family in that statement.  This experience is teaching my kids and myself a lot.  I have noticed I have been more patient with my children, probably because there is always someone else around who may or may not be watching me.  I am also yelling less, and handling “situations” that come up in a way that would be exalting to God, not like before where more often than not He was shaking His head and giving me lesson after lesson.  I hope I can keep it up after this reno is over.

My children are learning Spanish, the poor worker guys having to hear “hola!” every time they walk by, it’s quite funny actually.  And now since they have been here, which seems like forever, they are teaching them a few other Spanish phrases.  Leaving the house everyday for a bit helps to break up the day, and the kids learn “how to” act in public situations, and to talk to and entertain those around them.  We were at Wendy’s and my oldest was done eating and wanted to push our youngest around.  An older couple was sitting at another table and my 7 yo stopped and started a conversation with them and made them laugh.  How exciting is it that I can see my children bring joy to others!

Now what may not be good throughout this is the underlying stress I am feeling.   Although it doesn’t seem like it from the outside, at least that’s what my husband says, I am really stressed about not having order, or cleanliness (there is dust on EVERYTHING!).  And the idea of eating out any more is really making my stomach turn, but this too shall pass.  I have to keep looking at what is being accomplished, and how our home will be transformed into an oasis when it is complete (I feel like this might be a little of a comparison to earth and heaven) .  I really wish I know how to post pictures here, I want to show the before and after.  Maybe I’ll figure it out by the time it’s complete. (any help here would be appreciated :))  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, and have pretty much stopped everything else in my life, so don’t take it personal if that includes you!

The goal I have for my children is to have them bring Glory to God in all they do.  May this experience make us a “light” to others, no matter how we may be feeling, or whatever circumstance were in.  Including the craziness of having our home tore up.  Just remember whatever it is you are going through is an opportunity to be molded to be more like Christ. Blessings,

Andria

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A home educating perspective

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

A couple of Saturdays ago I attended a home school conference that I happened to host at my church.  One of the speakers I knew well, Mary Hood, www.archersforthelord.com and also the author of  “The Joyful Homeschooler”, and “The Relaxed Homeschooler”  (which are 2 great books I highly recommend).  The other speaker was Chris Davis.  Prior to planning this conference I had never heard of him, and to be honest, I didn’t research him much, my bad because I would have definitely marketed it better.  Well it’s a little late for that now, but I wanted to share a few of the great things he shared on that day from my perspective.

Chris is a very Godly man and he made sure his 4 kids knew who their “Father” was growing up.  He said he was dad, but only God was “Father” in their house.  What a great way to honor God daily.  He also knew that God had created all of His children for a purpose, and that it was Chris’ job to help his children realize and find what that purpose is.  It is a very different way of looking at the raising of our children, and what our job really is.  It’s not about what we want for them, it’s about going to prayer everyday to find out what God wants for them!  It was a relief to hear this for me, because now the pressure was off for me to figure anything out, the Lord was going to help me!  Ahhhhhhh, Thank you Lord!

With that comes who are you answering to?  Are you answering to the government? The school system?  Or are you answering to our Creator?  So many of us get caught up with grade level, math, history and english, or thoughts like “are they keeping up with their peers.”  I think we totally miss the point if this is what we are measuring our home education by.  The way Chris put it is “Are you doing what others are telling you to do? Or are you doing what The Lord is telling you to do?”  Wow, what a concept, and a great question to continue to ask ourselves as we travel through this journey.

There are many moms I talk to who have asked something along the lines of “what can I do to get my child to not resist me teaching them?”   According to Chris there are 2 types of resistence

phisiological: i.e. physical problem like bad eye sight or

natural resistance: i.e. If you were your child you’d be resisting as well, ouch!

I have seen this with my own son, as soon as he thinks I am teaching him something, his fingers go in his ears and he chants out loud, okay maybe it’s not that obvious, but you get what I’m saying.  And if I just give him opportunities to learn the things he wants, when he wants to, on his own, it’s a completely different (better, calmer, relaxed) experience.  Readiness is more important than anything else when learning.  When I was in school I couldn’t do a story problem to save my life.  For years I struggled, and could NEVER do them.  It was such a source of frustration and bitterness and I felt so stupid.  Something Chris said resonated with me about this “if you don’t put it in context, it doesn’t mean anything”, I’m going to say that again, “if you don’t put it in context it doesn’t mean anything.”  I didn’t care about 2 trains on a piece of paper, that’s why I couldn’t do them.  But when I got my sales job, my life was about story problems, so I HAD TO do them, it was put into “useful context” so they came easy to me that way.  Wow what an aha moment!

I encourage you to ask God “who is this child?”  God will reveal that to you if you ask.  We must as parents value what is working in our children’s hearts, because God put it there, and if God put it there in the end, or even on the journey He will get the Glory!  And isn’t that what our life here is about?

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Where have I been?

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

Ah yes!  It has been a while since I have written in this format, okay written at all.  To answer the question I have been having a baby, adjusting to 4, homeschooling or should I say unschooling, moving into a new house, getting ready for a renovation, hopefully. Anyway, yea just doing stuff.  I was moved to come back and read my blog after coming home from a bible study I have been attending.  I had used this blog as “proof” of how the Lord was working through some difficult times, and it just so happens so was the person I was reading about in bible study.  So here I am.

I’m Baaaack!

I will continue to share from the heart, it will probably all over the place, but isn’t that life? Maybe that’s just my life, but I like it that way, it keeps it interesting.  I have to have interesting because I get bored otherwise.  It won’t be consistent… it’s difficult to be consistent with 4 kids and homeschooling.  And I hope it will bring a smile to your face and mine.  We will see where this journey will take us, because it’s all about the journey, not the destination.

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Efficiency vs Sanity

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

It’s Sunday night and we were pretty much out of groceries.  I had a meeting to go to and my husband so lovingly suggested I go to the grocery store while I was out, alone.  I think he suggested it 3 times, and he truly was trying to help me out.  The store I wanted to go to was right by where I was going to be on Monday with my 3 kids, ages 6, 4 and 2.  You see the way my mind works is I want to be as efficient as possible with my time and money.  All I can think about is how I would be wasting gas to go on Sunday when I wasn’t going to even be near the store I wanted to shop at but would be near there on Monday.  The obvious choice is to go on Monday, right?  So I went on with my Sunday…

It’s Monday morning and I am TRYING to get out the door with my 3 kids.  They are not being very cooperative, but we finally get in the car to begin my efficient day.  We head to that store, that I couldn’t waste gas to go to “alone” and explain to the kids how they should act in the store, again.  My older 2 have been pretty good on our errand running trips, but now we have a wild card.  A blond haired blue eyed little volcano, who could erupt at any time.  Not thinking of how hard it is to pick up diapers with 2 and the volcano, I am going to attempt shopping? The key word attempt…  We began okay, but it wasn’t long before the volcano erupted and took out the other 2 with her lava.  There are just those days, where I just know everyone who sees this is thinking “and she’s pregnant again?  She can’t even handle what she has.”  This day I was a thermometer, and was not understanding why they were acting this way.  And then I thought back to my husband’s wise question, and the 3 times he asked it.  But oblivious, hard headed me, totally missed what he was saving me from, a volcano that can erupt at any time, and if she hasn’t in the last 5 minutes, wait…..for…… it…..  It’s coming!    Our life right now is in a season where sanity has to come before efficiency.  I give my husband credit for seeing something I didn’t, but next time can you please spell it out for me?  Show me the word picture so I can not only save myself, but our children and all those who had to witness the debacle of a shopping trip because I had to be efficient.  Sometimes it’s just not worth it!

Now to look at the good that came of it I got a new grill for a great deal, even though I could have probably gotten it on Sunday….

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Dear Georgia Medical Doctor’s,

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

I had to visit ANOTHER doctor in GA, and I also had to bite my tongue for the sake of someone else and their relationship with them, your welcome Rachel.   I just had to write this letter to show the ignorance that I have seen come from the medical field.   Some of you may be offended,  these were my true experiences and conversations that I had… Seriously!  I am sure there are good one’s out there, I have yet to run into one.  But one thing I know for sure, I will make them read this letter before I even talk to them, then they will at least know what they are getting themselves into!

Dear Doctor,

In my experience so far in dealing with medical doctor’s I have not been very impressed.  I am writing this letter to you so you can understand what I mean.  I know you have been through many years of schooling, and paid a major price to put those letters behind your name, and I can appreciate that.  But you may have lost some things along the way (like Mr. common sense).  To tell a woman, who is pregnant with her 4th child, that you “have to” hear the babies heart beat or do an ultra sound because it may be a tumor, not a baby, for crying out loud!  I mean did you look around the room and see the three other children, that yes, I did carry in my womb?  When I told you I felt the baby kick, last I knew, tumor’s don’t do that.  I mean you seriously caused me to ask myself “why am I here?”

Also when speaking about blood work, and trying to explain why there has to be a doctors order to get it at some places, please do not use the example of “cootie’s disease”, and that I am not intelligent enough to get a doctor’s opinion if I were to actually receive the results instead of a doctor.  Your questioning of my intelligence and using stupid examples really makes me wonder about you.

When I tell you I don’t vaccinate, please do not act like I am an idiot who just pulled this decision out of my butt without any research.  I may not have those letter’s after my name, but trust me, I have researched it more than you know, for years prior to having kids.   It probably is not a good thing for you to tell me you are making a separate waiting room for non vaccinated children, this shows your ignorance way too much, because if vaccinations truly worked why would you need one?  Oh and to have the attitude, “I will see your child, but I don’t agree with you” doesn’t cut it either.  Also along the same line’s do NOT treat my child like she has a deadly disease because she was not vaccinated, but had a common ailment that happens a lot within her age group and was caused by, “ahem”, Acetaminophen.  You used fear, and my child dying to scare me, that is borderline sick in the head!  (BTW she is happy and healthy and had NOT had another incident after I had to sign a paper that stated if my child dies I will not sue the hospital… my stomach is turning just thinking about it).

Oh and this one really get’s me.  If you are a male OBGYN, don’t you dare, ever, no matter how many birth’s you have attended, say you know what it feels like to give birth.  Yes, I had one actually say this to me.   It really shows your ego and complete and utter ignorance as to what a woman is going through, your license should be stripped for just thinking it.

What I would truly like to know is what happened to the “investigation” portion of your job and common sense?  Why do you not ask questions any more but rely on tests that cost thousands of dollars?  I would have been saved over $5,000 had you just asked a few questions, well maybe any way.  Why can’t you maybe try and get to know me, my intelligence level and my philosophy before you say or do stupid things like I have stated here?  I think we could work a little bit better together if you could support differences instead of defending your position all the time.  I understand you have to “CYA”, but that shouldn’t mean losing all common sense.

And finally, please do not get down on me for the natural methods our family has chosen to use to heal ourselves.  Again I have done tons of research and have chosen this path for 20 years.  I am not stupid, nor ignorant like you try to make me feel.  I am doing what I feel is best for my family and I do not appreciate your condescending attitude towards me everytime I have had to meet with one of you.  Please take my advice into consideration and let me know if you would like me to leave your waiting room now, or if you are ready to take on the challenge to prove me wrong.  Because honestly, I really want you to!

Sincerely,

Mom with common sense

Whew, I feel better!

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Adjuvants- what are they and why are they used?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

So what are these things called adjuvants?  I was struggling to understand what they were so I wanted to clarify and explain.

Adjuvants -immune-boosting additives with potentially unknown or risky profiles                Some popular adjuvants include- peanut oil, egg, HCG.  Now why is this an issue?  When you get “natural immunity” from being exposed to a disease your body goes through a natural process of fighting that disease.  It enters through the nose and mouth, moves through your system and gives your immune system “warning” and it begins to do it’s job against these diseases.  When a disease is “injected” directly into your blood stream, your immune goes into overdrive, and when it is injected, not only with the disease, but also with these adjuvants, what is your immune system going to do?  It attacks the adjuvant as well, i.e. egg and peanut.  So when a child, after he has been injected with these, eats them (egg and/or peanut), their immune system attacks them because it recognizes them as an intruder because of the initial injections.  Make sense?  Check the ingredients of the vaccinations and see what type of adjuvants have been used.  The scary part is, quote “adjuvants are not really necessary to make the vaccine have an effect, and nobody is going to [officially] tell citizens that these new ingredients are in there.” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/22/dr-meryl-nass-on-anthrax-vaccine.aspx?e_cid=20111122_DNL_art_1  Now why are these being added?  I cannot say for sure, but I am sure it has something to do with the almighty dollar.   Another adjuvant that is being used is HCG.  Now I am very familiar with a diet that uses HCG, and it has worked wonderfully for me.  But when this was brought up that it is being added to vaccines and causing miscarriages, I was a little freaked, to say the least.  Just in case I can talk my hubby into another child, I was scared I may have raised my chances of a miscarriage because I used HCG.  Good news is, after much research, it only causes harm when used with a vaccine, whew, crisis averted.  Now this is scary because if HCG, which is a hormone that is in pregnant women and helps their pregnancy, is used this way, miscarriages will become even more prevalent.  Why?  Because the body, after getting injected with vaccine and HCG together, will think HCG is an enemy.  So when someone gets pregnant, who has had a vaccine with HCG, there body will see the HCG as an enemy and attack it and try and rid the body of it, hence miscarriage.  There are many out there who believe in population control, and oh my how this will do that.  It’s scary stuff folks, more to come as I gather more information.

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A logical look.

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

I am going to ask something from you before you read this.  Please take all emotion out, read this with an open mind and from a logical standpoint.  I am not here sharing this information to get someone to defend their position and I am not judging anyone who does vaccinate, I am just sharing from my own experience and research, actually this time from what I learned from Mary Tocco the other night.  It is important to know, whether you vaccinate or not, more of our rights as parents are being given to the government.  More states are trying to mandate vaccinations, and again whether you vaccinate or not, it is important these decisions are made by us, as parents, and not to the government because you are the only one who has your child’s best interest at heart.  So please read on with an open mind, and see the facts that are presented before you as facts.  I will be adding many links to other websites to support these facts as well, so you will know where they came from.

So what is in those vaccines?  Please see this vaccine calculator  http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/  to see the specific ingredients and amounts.  This information comes directly from the inserts that come with the vaccinations.  If you do choose to vaccinate, it also is a guide as to which brand has less of the below poisons.

Fact:  Mercury (Thimerosal) is poison.  http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/mercury.html   When one is pregnant they are told not to eat tuna because of mercury levels, but will get a flu shot which puts Mercury directly into blood stream.  Also flu shots contain H1N1 infection and has been known to cause miscarriages.                                                                            Fact: Aluminum is poison (anything over 20 micro grams is toxic, Google it)  http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/aluminum.html      By 18 months old, fully vaccinated children have been given over 4,925 micro grams of Aluminum                                                         Fact: Aborted fetus cells/animal dna  http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/vaccine-components/human-fetal-links-some-vaccines                                                                      Fact: Formaldehyde (poison) Known to cause liver and kidney damage                                     Fact: Squalene- An adjuvent that reduces fertility and contributes to autoimmune disorders (not FDA approved to be used in vaccines) http://www.whale.to/vaccine/adjuvants.html

Above are just a few of the ingredients and potential dangers they may cause.  By writing this I am not saying that all these diseases were caused by vaccinations either.  My family for example, has some diseases that seem to be hereditary like asthma and skin allergies.  But one cannot rule out that vaccinations may contribute to the rampant spread of these diseases today.  Just ask your parents and grandparents, how many kids did they know who had asthma, chronic ear infections, auto immune disorders, peanut allergies etc.  From what I remember not nearly the amount as there are now.  Why?  What changed? The major change is when I was born in 1975, the most vaccines I received were 3, in 1983 the number was 10, 2002 23 were administered and now the number is around 70 for 16 diseases.  http://www.childhoodshots.com/  The scariest part is there are 395 vaccines awaiting approval!  When we look at it from a logical standpoint, one cannot say that there is not a possibility of a connection.

Just a few things to think about, I have more to cover, so look for my next post.

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In honor of vaccination awareness week

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Andria Dowie Truth & Wellness

I have my notepad and pen ready, my house cleaned and babysitter lined up.  Tonight is the night I get to go see Mary Tocco at a live event here in Atlanta.  Who is she you ask?  She has done over 30 years of research on vaccinations and validating the dangers.  Please see her website at  http://www.childhoodshots.com/  My friend and I, who are going to this conference, have discussed what information hounds we are and how excited it is to be able to see Mary in person.  The down side is how do we relate this information to others, without being pushy or overbearing.

Hence one reason I began blogging.  This is a forum, that I believe I can articulate my beliefs, and people can choose to read them or not, their choice.  I would hope others would read this and ask questions instead of making decisions just because they were told to do something.  It is just a different perspective from the government, most MD’s and maybe even family.  I believe it is important to know why you believe what you believe, and to have information to back it up.  So look out later (or tomorrow) for new information from an expert on this subject, Mary, relayed by me.  Looking forward to it.

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