Category Archives: Random but important

Paradigm shifts

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The desire to be right is the thirst for truth.

The desire to HAVE BEEN right is pride. 

Our PRIDE can easily stand in the way of seeing where we have been wrong; where we might have believed lies.

What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that the prior conclusions remain in tact. Warren Buffet

These ideas were inspired from a talk given by Amandha Vollmer as part of The End of Covid, a 90 part lecture series covering a wide range of topics. Her talk on Paradigm Shifts resonated and got me thinking. We can always benefit by reflecting on these concepts and asking ourselves probing questions.

We prefer cognitive short cuts. We don’t want to do the hard work.

A simple example, we read the product ingredients and compare products and conclude which is best so that next time we just reach for what we know. Or we trust the front label that says “all natural” and buy it without bothering to check the ingredient list. Or, we assume that if it is sold in the grocery store, it must have been approved and checked by someone.

We give special weight to information that allows us to come to the conclusion we want to reach.

It’s very uncomfortable to think about things we hold dearly. I know of people who have decided there is no hell because they have lost loved ones that were not in a good relationship with God. When we are faced with a challenge to our idea about something, we should ask ourselves, is there a reason I WANT this to be true?

Many highly educated people have such confidence and pride in their own education process – especially those with advanced degrees – that they automatically and unquestioningly accept conclusions by academics in other fields. They assume that the most highly educated and outspoken in a particular field must be right. They’ve been trained to respect the academic process. To challenge the legitimacy of an ‘expert’ in a different field challenges their own level of what they think they know in their own field. They automatically assume the person bringing the challenging idea “has no idea what they are talking about” because they are not ”trained in that field”. This is a logic fallacy. Ideas should be judged on evidence, not upheld because of appeals to authority or “the way it’s always been”. The more strongly held ideas in society are probably the ones that should be examined the most, but are often the hardest to be objective about – for instance, the shape of the earth and the origin of everything.

Studies are manipulated to prove what sponsors want to prove in order to achieve future grant money.

There are two outspoken [former] editors of scientific journals that both reach similar conclusions: up to 50% of all data and results published in ‘science’ can’t be trusted. But they are ‘Peer Reviewed’ everyone shouts. These editors describe how the peer review process has been corrupted. This leaves the average person struggling to know who or what to believe, especially in the area of what drug or procedure will actually bring benefits. There are so many voices, so much conflicting and competing information, what can I trust? Do I trust my dear sweet doctor who receives regular visits from Pharma reps, reads the medical journals, is trained in all the latest wonder meds, and abides by the “standard of Care” practices of their medical system? Do I trust those selling natural products and supplements? 

Of special consideration for Christians…

There are evil people that want to deceive us. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. 

But, God is greater and stronger and delights to give wisdom to His children.

[His servants] will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:4-5; 14-15

The question is not “Do I love lies?” The real question is “HOW have I loved lies?” “Where in my life do I cling to lies?” “Can I fully seek and accept TRUTH?” “How can I draw closer to God, seek fully His wisdom and guidance, so that I am protected from lies?”

I just read this morning a wonderful promise from Jesus:

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13

Becky Hastings collects information on health and tries her best to discover and share truth. By God’s grace, through Jesus Christ, I was saved, blessed with a husband of over 40 years, and five precious babies all grown up. I now get to delight as ten grandchildren grow! Together we can help each other discover a healthy path in this crazy upside down world.

Have I been tricked?

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There is a saying that it’s easier to fool someone than to convince someone that they have been fooled.

There is another saying that it’s easier to convince people of a huge lie than a small one.

Once our thinking is built on a foundation of lies or half truths we have a hard time discerning truth. How do we know?

There is another concept I’ve encountered that goes something like this, “Those who control the present, control the past. Those who control the past, control the future.”

Schools throughout the world teach history. Rarely will the curriculums from one country to another align. Sometimes different regions of a country have different history. Information about the past is transmitted to the next generations via curriculum for a variety of reasons. Many Christian homeschoolers carefully choose curricula that will support their Biblical world view. As a resident, turned citizen, of South Africa from 1983 to 2013, I heard a lot of discussion about educational curriculum in light of the profound changes the country experienced. Many past events were revised with a new understanding in light of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and his election as President of the country that had once considered him a dangerous terrorist.

Rarely is history as clear as we’d like to be able to teach our children. Many of us grew up hearing lots of dates and facts in history class and lost interest in the topic. The intrigues of nation against nation and political rise and fall doesn’t captivate very many. Learning early on that history is boring, we put our attention and energy into areas that are more captivating.

As a retired homeschool mom [all five have long since graduated], I’ve grown to be very intrigued by history and explored a variety of different sources. The reality of the role of propaganda throughout history is undeniable, yet none of us wants to admit we have been a victim of propaganda! Could much of our early education and exposure to media have been part of a tactic to influence or control my thinking? We pride ourselves on our independent thought, yet how independent is my understanding of world affairs both past and present?

One thing I have learned in light of recent crazy events, God’s word is a great place to place my trust. The old testament accounts sound amazingly similar to what we are witnessing first hand today. God’s word is true. God is trustworthy. As I view current events in light of God’s eternal truths, I have more understanding. I also have confidence in our all powerful God!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: All things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

God is still in control. All things are working for His purpose and for our ultimate good.

I found this lecture/interview with Professor Mark Crispin Miller from NYU quite profound. He is a student and teacher of propaganda throughout history. He makes some pretty startling statements in this 30 minute interview.

Video: https://odysee.com/@PandemicParallaxView:6/2020-A-Propaganda-Masterpiece-Prof-Mark-Crispin-Miller-PonP-Episode17:3

or here: https://21stcenturywire.com/2021/07/10/the-global-pandemic-a-propaganda-masterpiece-with-mark-crispin-miller/

Or if you prefer, here is a link to the audio only. https://ratical.org/PandemicParallaxView/mp3s/Perspectives-on-the-Pandemic-2020-A-Propaganda-Masterpiece-Prof-Mark-Crispin-Miller-Episode17.mp3

Here are the highlights:

Mark Cripsin Miller: “It seems to me that the year 2020 and the first half of 2021 have comprised a global propaganda spectacle of unprecedented scale and sophistication. I for one believe that we were subjected to a series of carefully planned psychological operations over the course of 2020 and just beyond. I think it started with the roll-out of the virus. This particular instance of fear-mongering is the most persuasive, the most compelling, the most devastating kind of fear-mongering that’s ever really been used in the history of propaganda and that’s really saying something. We’ve seen the fear propaganda move from the Hun to Communism to Terrorism but now it makes the crucial move to the thing itself. The thing with which previous enemies have been compared. The evocation of The Virus Is All Around Us was enough to turn the wits of millions of highly educated people. It’s a very easy matter to get people to do what you want. Just convince them they’re under attack and that anyone who argues with that claim is putting them at risk.”

“Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government,” wrote Edward Bernays [in 1929], the father of modern propaganda. In part one of Episode 17, Mark Crispin Miller, professor of Media Studies at New York University, discusses the propaganda onslaught that defined the year 2020, when what was dismissed one week is confirmed the next, and why questioning official narratives “necessarily means taking ‘conspiracy theory’ seriously.”

We can feel uneasy and unsettled when faced with such information. Sometimes we prefer to bury our heads in the sand and pretend our fantasy picture of the world is accurate! Understanding that there is something not quite right about the narrative we’ve been presented can actually open up our faith and cause us to grow as we seek to know God and call on Him to guide us as we navigate life with a new understanding. God is faithful. He is calling His children to trust Him. He is still at work building His Kingdom. We need to re-evaluate our tightly held ideas about the world and re-examine everything in light of God’s unfailing truth.

Ultimately we can no longer live in a fantasy world. The adage, “What you don’t know doesn’t hurt you,” is changed to “What you do know won’t hurt you.” 

Becky Hastings collects information on health and tries her best to discover and share truth. “By God’s grace, through Jesus Christ, I was saved, blessed with a husband of 40 years, and have five precious babies all grown up. I now get to delight as nine grandchildren grow! Together we can help each other discover a healthy path in this crazy upside down world.“

This Corrupt Generation?

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In one of his very first messages delivered to a public audience not long after Jesus’ death, resurrection, appearance, and return to heaven, Peter proclaims this timeless warning: “Save yourself from this corrupt generation.” Acts 2:40

Peter’s words, recorded 2000 years ago, ring very true today.

Sinners sin. Power corrupts. Leaders and governments control through any means possible. Why are we surprised?

Because we’ve been presented with a veneer that our country, our government, our leaders, our health care system, even the UN and WHO, have only good intentions for ‘we the people’. 

A facade. We believed lies. We were deeply deceived. Programmed from birth through many sophisticated methods available: entertainment, media, news, education, medical standards, ‘science’, etc. 

God is not surprised by current circumstances. His Word has timeless answers and will lead to wisdom and discernment – exactly what we need to navigate our current culture. 

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:38-41

Read the whole chapter – Acts 2. I read God’s word every day, and these days the ancient writings seem more applicable than ever! As you seek God, He will answer. He promises that ALL who seek Him will find Him.

I don’t have all the answers. While there are many helpful theories about history, world operations, the route to health, I don’t believe any person alive understands all the background information needed to provide a comprehensive explanation. Any person who ignores God, His Creative work from the beginning of time, and His current explanation for world events, will miss out on huge portions of truth – even though they are sincerely seeking truth. Seeking God will lead to finding truth. I keep seeking. May I never hold on so tightly to my opinions that I miss seeing what God wants to show me. I have been deceived. We are all currently deceived about something. Jesus warns in Matthew 7, “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will know them.”

If you are ready for a challenge, I have found an incredibly helpful method of exploring the collection of ancient documents joined together in the book we know as the Bible.

Becky Hastings, avid follower of Jesus Christ, wife, mother, grandmother, health seeker and reporter. Seeking truth can be challenging, and sometimes confusing, but far more rewarding than staying ignorant.

Costco Removes Roundup

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Watch the following video by Zen Honeycutt from Moms Across America. Zen announces the Costco decision to stop selling glyphosate based herbicides, like Roundup!

Costco’s action comes after of the 2018 court case where glyphosate was shown to be the cause of the cancer suffered by Dewayne Johnson. This decision was upheld when it was appealed by Monsanto. Now public pressure needs to continue so that Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart and others will stop selling this cancer causing product.

But why does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPS) continue to allow glyphosate herbicides to be sold in the USA? Zen explains a recent paper which analyzes previous EPA studies and reviews of glyphosate. The EPA cherry picks data to try to show glyphosate is NOT genotoxic. When an lysis of unbiased, non industry funded science is examined, there is clear evidence of harm. https://hygeia-analytics.com/…/2019-paper-on…/

Is cancer the only risk posed by glyphosate containing herbicides like Roundup?

Many are unaware that 1 in ±3.5 Americans now suffer with non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A recent study shows that rats developed NAFLD from chronic exposure to ultra low doses of glyphosate based herbicides such as Roundup. Could the widespread use of glyphosate which ends up in our food supply, be the reason for the epidemic of NAFLD? https://www.nature.com/articles/srep39328

GMWatch has some good news to report. In 2018 there have been landmark victories in India, Europe, and USA: https://www.gmwatch.org/…/18697-a-year-in-review-part-1…

Further good news is that France BANS glyphosate containing Roundup!!! https://www.fwi.co.uk/…/france-bans-monsanto-weedkiller…

But Canada continues to stand firmly behind Monsanto and relicenses glyphosate!! https://www.fwi.co.uk/…/canada-stands-by-decision-to…

Costco is not perfect. Many people criticize large box stores because of a perceived (or real) negative impact. We live in an imperfect world and we all have to make choices with the options we have available. I don’t have a Costco membership, but sometimes shop there when visiting my family. I think it is good that Costco is taking a stand and discontinuing the sale of glyphosate containing herbicides. I wish more retailers – like Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot would follow their example. Action taken by these large stores could significant reduce glyphosate exposure to the public. What do you think?

Compiled by Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, health seeker and reporter. Seeking truth can be challenging, but better than staying ignorant!

Medical Tyranny?

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David and Collet tragically lost their 18 mo son Ezekiel in 2013. I’ve been aware of this case and read everything I could find about this family. In this latest report by David Stephan, he shares facts never before publicly revealed about their experience of the death of their son and the judicial nightmare they have undergone since then.

Unbelievable is the only way to describe this family’s experience in Alberta, Canada. Evidence of coverup and collusion between medical personnel, pharmaceutical interests, law enforcement, the legal system, and the media abound. I truly believe most people will not believe the details in this case no matter how much proof is provided, because it will rock their view of the world too profoundly. I encourage everyone to read this updated report by David Stephan. Please watch the 8 minute video below.

…there are people with strong beliefs who will do anything they can to force others to comply. Even if it destroys the lives of innocent children and families.”

We all need to take a bold stand for medical freedom. We need to learn to speak LOUDLY in a spirit of LOVE. The medical and personal freedom of everyone is at stake. This is a slippery slope. It is David and Collet’s desire to help other families – and there are many – who are suffering wrongfully in a wide range of similar cases. Please share, donate if you are able, but most of all stand in prayer with this family.

https://gogetfunding.com/stand-for-truth-funding-for-medical-experts-to-further-verify-the-true-cause-of-death-of-ezekiel-stephan/

Compiled by Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, truth activist. Navigating health information can be confusing. Becky writes and speaks because of her faith in Jesus Christ and her desire to warn parents of potentially harmful modern medical recommendations. Becky receives no renumeration for this work! While there is a ‘donate’ button on https://journeyboost.com, it has yet to be tested!

CPS for Refusing Vaccines?

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One of my readers shared a powerful example of how to respond when a medical professional threatens you with a call to CPS for not accepting vaccines:

If a doctor or nurse threatens to file a CPS report when you do not want to vaccinate your child.
1) Start recording the conversation immediately… and tell them “I am now recording for your safety and my safety”.
2) Then say, “Excuse me, I want to make sure I understand you correctly. Are you saying that if I agree to let you administer those vaccines today [more powerful if you list the specific vaccines that have been discussed], that we will walk out of here with no problems, but if I refuse the vaccines, that you will call CPS and file a report?” [[let them answer]]
3) Next: “If you call CPS or file a report with them, exactly what are you going to be claiming in the report?” [[let them answer]]
4) “Are you aware of the informed consent laws for our state?[1, 2] Are you familiar with the Nuremberg Code [3], and what it says about informed consent, and do you understand the implications of your statement and what it means for a medical professional to use methods of coercion & intimidation to get consent for a medical procedure?”

At this point you may be quite shaken and emotionally distraught. If you are still rock solid and confident – congratulations! My reader concluded with this approach:

“5) Then you say, “We’re done here. I am under duress and I will not be threatened or manipulated to consent to any medical procedures, nor will I be signing any documents, and if you do not let me leave, and if you file a CPS report with false claims, I will call my attorney, and report you to the medical board of our state for attempted coercion which is ILLEGAL.”
6) BYE – LEAVE”

I agree that you need to leave the office ASAP. However, at ALL TIMES you need to be confident and respectful. Doctors have been through such rigorous training that they have a hard time listening to patients and are quick to interpret any disagreement or questioning as ‘crazy’. Being right about your rights no longer guarantees your freedom from harassment in our country. You do not want to be unnecessarily adversarial. You need to be absolutely STRONG and careful about how your actions and words will be interpreted by a thoroughly indoctrinated medical professional. Perhaps an exit strategy like this may be a better option:

“We need to leave now.” (stand up, get yourself ready to follow through on those words immediately). “I need to speak to my partner (if your partner is with you, say, “We need time to discuss this.”) “I/We need to consult with my/our lawyer about legal requirements in our state. I’m/We’re going to think about what you have advised.” If you are receiving pressure to sign any type of waiver or form, say “We cannot sign anything right now, but we can take the form and read through it.” Walk out.

Save some emotional energy because at this point you probably have to stop by the billing desk to organize the payment of your office visit. Be strong. Be prepared. You CAN protect your children!

Too many parents are facing wrongful removal of their children. You do not want to unnecessarily harm your children by consenting to give vaccines through fear, pressure and coercion, but you also do not want to necessarily ‘poke’ a vindictive medical professional!

Of course, if you do not take your baby to wellness visits you will not be faced with pressure to give them vaccines. Many parents are able to find respectful medical professionals for their babies/children. I hope you never need this information, but if you ever find yourself facing CPS officials at your door, this blog outlines how to handle such a situation.

Author: Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, passionate follower of Jesus and truth. As a life & wellness coach, Becky seeks to inspire and motivate others to find increased energy, joy, and longevity. Navigating information to achieve long-term health goals in every area of life is a passion! Becky writes, speaks, and shares information hoping to educate parents on the anomalies and contradictions in the vaccine debate.

  1. “For an individual to give valid informed consent, three components must be present: disclosure, capacity and voluntariness.
    • Disclosure requires the researcher to supply each prospective subject with the information necessary to make an autonomous decision and also to ensure that the subject adequate understands the information provided. This latter requirement implies that a written consent form be written in lay language suited for the comprehension skills of subject population, as well as assessing the level of understanding through conversation.
    • Capacity pertains to the ability of the subject to both understand the information provided and form a reasonable judgment based on the potential consequences of his/her decision.
    • Voluntariness refers to the subject’s right to freely exercise his/her decision making without being subjected to external pressure such as coercion, manipulation, or undue influence.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent#Valid_elements
  2. Take some time to review the laws for your state in advance.
  3. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Code#The_ten_points_of_the_Nuremberg_Code

 

Hep B Vaccine Killed this Baby

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This is an anonymous true account of one mother’s experience. This story has received a huge amount of shares on my Facebook Page, so I thought I would make a permanent place for it on my blog. To be clear – this is not MY story. It was shared with me by a mom in 2016. She gave me permission to publish her story anonomously.

“This is my daughter. The first photo of her and I was before she received the Hep B vaccine. The second is the very last photo I got of her.

To me she looked almost sickly in the second photo. She passed that following morning between 6:50-7:20am 36hrs exactly after receiving the Hep B vaccine at 14 days old. She was only 4lbs 6oz which is contraindicated on the insert, no premature baby under 4.4lbs should receive this vaccine, no one with liver issues (she was still mildly jaundice). She hadn’t even reached her due date. I feel so robbed. My baby was stolen from me. My precious beautiful baby girl. My first daughter. I found out I was pregnant with her August 17th 2013. She was born at 34.5 weeks on 4/10/14. She passed 4/26/14. I was going to take her to the ER that morning if she was still lethargic like she was the day before. Unfortunately she never made it, because I TRUSTED her doctor. I called and he said she would be fine, it’s just from the vaccine. Yeah. It was from the vaccine. Little did I know it was causing her liver and heart to go into failure. I feel so much guilt. I think of all the things I COULD have done, all the things I SHOULD have done. I have a hard time forgiving myself, and accepting the fact it wasn’t my fault. But I feel like it was, I should have trusted my gut, because my gut was SCREAMING ‘don’t vaccinate her’, that’s why I had refused in the hospital, but they threatened me with CPS, told me I’d get my kids taken if I didn’t vaccinate. I’m not Hep B positive. Newborns don’t do drugs and don’t have sex. Why was it SO imperative to inject my preemie with the toxins that killed her? And the worst part is, I can’t even hold the doctor who forced it accountable! So moms, dads, and anyone else reading this, if you have any doubt, or if your gut/instinct is screaming ‘NO’, LISTEN. It’s there for a reason. Please listen to it, I wish I did, it may save your child’s life.” A heartbroken mother

Be prepared. Get the facts. Say NO to unnecessary vaccines. I’ve compiled information on the Hepatitis B vaccine to help you start your research. Don’t blindly believe me. But don’t believe those who push you to accept this shot for your precious baby either. Get the facts for yourself. You can always give a vaccine later, you can never ‘undo’ a vaccine once it is injected. Your child’s life is in YOUR HANDS. No one else will have to live with the outcome of your choice. I’ve collected more information for those interested in more information on vaccines here.

Author: Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, passionate follower of Jesus and truth. As a life & wellness coach, Becky seeks to inspire and motivate others to find increased energy, joy, and longevity. Navigating information to achieve long-term health goals in every area of life is a passion! Becky writes, speaks, and shares information hoping to educate parents on the anomalies and contradictions in the vaccine debate.

 

 

Common Sense for New Parents

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Every parent – well 98% – want what is best for their baby. But it is confusing to know WHAT is BEST?

In this 5 minute video I share my heart with new parents. Don’t take my word for it. Investigate everything I say. Get to know the reasons people think vaccines are a good idea. Get to know the body of evidence that shows there is more unintended harm from vaccines than is generally acknowledged by government regulatory bodies.

Learn discernment. Take your time. Delay your decision until you are absolutely sure that what you are doing has been proven to be safe – beyond any shadow of doubt. Your baby is worth it. Your baby will thank you.

Take more time to research vaccines than the time you take to decorate baby’s room; more than research car seats; more than researching the latest cell phone. This could be the single most important decision you make for your child. You can do this. You can read the vaccine package inserts and understand exactly what the ingredients are in the vaccines. Ask questions. Don’t rely on ‘expert’ opinion. Only you, as the parents, will live 100% with the consequence of your choice. There is no ‘do over’. No second chance.

All my love,

Becky

ps I’ve prepared a ‘table of contents’ if you’d like to explore more information on vaccines.

Author: Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, passionate follower of Jesus and truth. As a breastfeeding counselor for over 23 years Becky is devoted to helping parents make wise decisions for the long-term health and wellbeing of their babies. As a member of a Vaccine Safety Education Coalition, Becky writes and speaks on the topic of vaccine safety.

 

Do Germs Make Us Sick?

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I’ve done a lot of research, reading, and personal experimenting with regard to health, and how to stay healthy. I’ve raised five children and have been blessed to have six grandchildren – so far. My quest for health was gradually awakened through a Nutritional Chemistry Course I attended at Vanderbilt University in 1979.

Over the years I’ve often heard of the ‘germ versus terrain’ theory and of the interactions between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Béchamp. Pasteur is credited with the germ theory which has been a dominant influence on medicine. Beauchamp maintained and demonstrated that it was not the germ that determines the extent of an  illness, but the terrain, or condition of the host, which determines the susceptibility and extent of an illness.

The video below contains one of the best explanations of the Germ versus Terrain Theory (Louis Pasteur Vs Antoine Béchamp) that I’ve heard. It is part of the story of Casi Renee, born 1995, died 1999 due to vaccine injury. I’ve cued the video at the point of describing an interaction between Pasteur and Béchamp, but feel free to watch the entire story. This mom used the tragedy of her daughter’s death to speak out and educate other parents on the potential harm of vaccines.

Our culture is phobic about killing germs – demonstrated by the use of hand sanitizers and other cleaning products. But what if the food we eat, the drugs we take, the vaccines we inject, and the chemicals we are exposing ourselves to through common household chemicals are actually making us MORE susceptible to illness? I’m all for washing hands. I wash mine after being out and about, before preparing food, etc. But how we get sick and how severely sick we become at any given time might be based on lifestyle, nutrition, and the environment of our body for the germs that are all around us. What kind of a host are you?

Becky Hastings, wife to John for 36 years, mother of five naturally born breastfed babies, grandmother of six, passionate follower of Jesus and truth. As a volunteer breastfeeding counselor since 1993, Becky is devoted to helping parents, especially mothers, make wise decisions for the long-term health and wellbeing of their babies.

 

A compendium for my expectant friends

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Our oldest grandson born to our oldest son and his wife in 2012.

Dear Friend

I’ve got so much on my heart to share with you. I’ve been working on presenting information for new parents, especially moms, since 2013. I’m not sure I’ve got the presentation exactly right. I don’t know everything. I struggle to adequately share the passion of my heart. Sometimes I feel I might be too passionate. I don’t want to alienate new parents, but perhaps I have.

It’s just that the stakes are pretty high. Listening to the wrong advice can impact our whole life. I try to avoid giving advice. I urge new parents to investigate and understand everything – from car seat safety to medicalised births, and all procedures that are recommended for new babies. Don’t take anything for granted, especially when there are major industries involved.

Since my first baby was born I have been passionate about breastfeeding, one of the most empowering acts a woman can do.

The wonders of breastfeeding are far-reaching and well documented, yet, despite what we know, the actual breastfeeding rates are quite low. Woman are not getting helpful information or the support they need to be successful in breastfeeding their babies. I truly don’t believe it is a failure on the part of women, but a failure on the part of our culture and society. Many times a new mother’s attempts to breastfeed can be complicated by standards of care for pregnant, laboring, and new moms. Misinformation abounds in our society. If every mother and father fully understood how breastfeeding impacts life-long health and well-being, they would be far more committed to searching out information on how to be successful. Listening and following the wrong information could sabotage your best attempts in breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is a learned art. Breastfeeding is best learned from someone who has been successful at breastfeeding, has helped other mothers reach their own goals for breastfeeding, and has enjoyed the process. All five of my babies and all six of my grandchildren have been breastfed. My daughter-in-law has told me many times that I need to write a book for young moms who are trying to navigate the world of motherhood.

Here are some of my blogs I’ve prepared for someone just like you. I pray you will browse, check out my sources, dig a little deeper, and come to your own conclusions. I am always available to discuss anything. I try to keep an open mind and dig for the truth. I share with you because I care about you and the health and happiness of your future babies.

Our oldest granddaughter born to our second son and his wife in 2010.

Many friends have shared information with me along my journey of motherhood which began in 1982. I am thankful they did. Motherhood is perhaps the most difficult yet most significant job we will ever have in life. I’ve never met anyone who wanted to be a bad mother. I’ve never met anyone who wanted a miserable baby. Yet I’ve met many mothers who face profound discouragement and when they trace back their journey they often find it was because of poor advice they were given early in their motherhood career. I pray you will find strength in your motherhood journey and have wisdom to discern what is best for you and your baby.

Blessings,

Becky

Here are some suggestions on places to start on specific topics. You could consider it something like a table of contents in a book.

Author: Becky Hastings, wife to John for 36 years, mother of five naturally born breastfed babies, grandmother of six, passionate follower of Jesus and truth. As a volunteer breastfeeding counselor since 1993, Becky is devoted to helping parents, especially mothers, make wise decisions for the long-term health and wellbeing of their babies.