If you want to read part one, click here. :) Another disclaimer...I am not an expert on anything, but a mom and helpmeet doing what she thinks is good for her family.
Little Man stayed home from school Friday. Good thing too, as he had a 100 degree temp by late afternoon. We applied essential oils (see part one) all day, he took two epsom salt baths and basically laid around all day long. He never needed anything for the temp, but did take two short naps.
Day Two Feeling better! Energy is back, no temp. Cough is setting in, lots of congestion. Time to add new oils to our regimen. Little Man has had success in the past with a mixture of Frankincense, Rosemary and Eucalyptus (equal parts mixed together) when he has a cough. Last year, he had a cough that would just not go away, and Hubby was ready to take him to Urgent Care for antibiotics. We used these oils for one or two nights, and it was gone. So, we rubbed this mixture on his feet, wrists and behind his ears throughout the day. We also rubbed it on his chest and then applied a warm washcloth one time. The On Gaurd oils were also used.
Day Three Much better! Cough sounds like a tickle, and isn't bad at all. Nose is VERY runny, but I'll take that over congestion. Gave him benedryl at night to dry it all up. He slept all night. We kept alternating the oils throughout the day.
Day Four Little Man is back at school. We rubbed the oils on his feet before he left, and we'll do it again when we get home. He will be at football practice this evening. Sweet victory appears to be ours. :)
Dear Lord, I thank You for these natural wonders. I pray for wisdom as we use them in our lives. Thank You for always watching over us. In Jesus name I pray--Amen
Monday, August 4, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
Double Challenge
**DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert, just a Mom and Helpmeet. Here is a great site that I go to for expert help: everythingessential.me.
My little man is home sick today. Yesterday he was complaining of a sore throat, and was obviously congested. Add to that an hour of football practice in the rain followed by an hour of football practice in the cold. This morning he awakes miserable and tired. This all leads to a challenging conversation with Hubby. Challenging because we do not see eye to eye. I could say annoying instead of challenging, but when I think of it, he is probably annoyed with me as well.
Hubby's point of view is this (as I see it): Little Man is sick. Little Man is in football. Little Man needs to miss as few practices as possible so he can play in the game. Get Little Man to Urgent Care for antibiotics.
My reaction tends to be: Are you kidding?!
This of course gets me nowhere good. So I choose to not say that out loud. :) I agree about not missing practices. I disagree about antibiotics. It is my view that antibiotics are way over used, and we are headed down a dangerous road toward super-bugs and drug-resistant bacteria. Our bodies are stronger than people think. We just want immediate results, and hate to be sick.
So, I have a challenge before me. A couple actually. 1. Don't be a jerk to my Hubby just because he has a different point of view. 2. Be very diligent in my care of Little Man so he will get better quickly!
So, here is the plan:
1. Lots of liquids!
2. Two Epsom salt baths combined with essential oils.
3. Essential Oil application all day long.
4. REST.
Last year we started using essential oils, and discovered that they work. Today I will be using a blend based on doterra's On Guard product. You can buy doterra oils on Amazon, or you can sign up with their company and order every month. I don't buy doterra oils because we just can't afford them. I buy other oils from Amazon because they are less expensive, but are still 100% essential oils with no fillers. I figure I need to honor God by staying within my budget. I trust that He will take care of us with the resources He's given us. I have bought the ingredients for this blend and just combined them to make my own.
Anyway, I am rubbing this blend (orange oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil) on Little Man's feet, wrists and behind his ears pretty much any time I think of it. I want to get a good dose into his system. I will also rub his back several times today using the doterra Aroma Touch technique. This link will take you to a short video showing you how to do this. There are many other videos explaining the hows and whys.
This conversation with Hubby and the looming football practices and games are actually helping me to step up my game as we attack this cold so I guess I shouldn't be irritated by it. Instead I welcome the challenge. Hopefully I will be writing a victory post soon!
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom an guidance as I attempt to nurse Little Man back to health. I pray for grace and respect as I interact with my husband. Please bring us to the same page in our thinking. May we kick this sickness without the need for doctors and antibiotics. In Jesus Name I pray-Amen
My little man is home sick today. Yesterday he was complaining of a sore throat, and was obviously congested. Add to that an hour of football practice in the rain followed by an hour of football practice in the cold. This morning he awakes miserable and tired. This all leads to a challenging conversation with Hubby. Challenging because we do not see eye to eye. I could say annoying instead of challenging, but when I think of it, he is probably annoyed with me as well.
Hubby's point of view is this (as I see it): Little Man is sick. Little Man is in football. Little Man needs to miss as few practices as possible so he can play in the game. Get Little Man to Urgent Care for antibiotics.
My reaction tends to be: Are you kidding?!
This of course gets me nowhere good. So I choose to not say that out loud. :) I agree about not missing practices. I disagree about antibiotics. It is my view that antibiotics are way over used, and we are headed down a dangerous road toward super-bugs and drug-resistant bacteria. Our bodies are stronger than people think. We just want immediate results, and hate to be sick.
So, I have a challenge before me. A couple actually. 1. Don't be a jerk to my Hubby just because he has a different point of view. 2. Be very diligent in my care of Little Man so he will get better quickly!
So, here is the plan:
1. Lots of liquids!
2. Two Epsom salt baths combined with essential oils.
3. Essential Oil application all day long.
4. REST.
Last year we started using essential oils, and discovered that they work. Today I will be using a blend based on doterra's On Guard product. You can buy doterra oils on Amazon, or you can sign up with their company and order every month. I don't buy doterra oils because we just can't afford them. I buy other oils from Amazon because they are less expensive, but are still 100% essential oils with no fillers. I figure I need to honor God by staying within my budget. I trust that He will take care of us with the resources He's given us. I have bought the ingredients for this blend and just combined them to make my own.
Anyway, I am rubbing this blend (orange oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil) on Little Man's feet, wrists and behind his ears pretty much any time I think of it. I want to get a good dose into his system. I will also rub his back several times today using the doterra Aroma Touch technique. This link will take you to a short video showing you how to do this. There are many other videos explaining the hows and whys.
This conversation with Hubby and the looming football practices and games are actually helping me to step up my game as we attack this cold so I guess I shouldn't be irritated by it. Instead I welcome the challenge. Hopefully I will be writing a victory post soon!
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom an guidance as I attempt to nurse Little Man back to health. I pray for grace and respect as I interact with my husband. Please bring us to the same page in our thinking. May we kick this sickness without the need for doctors and antibiotics. In Jesus Name I pray-Amen
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Money Monday: Yard Sale Find
(We ended up cashing in the spoons for $25. Paid for this cabinet +$5!)
Money has certainly been on my mind lately. I am a substitute teacher, and we are at the end of our summer, so I haven't been paid for eight weeks now. I have been searching for ways to earn extra money, but no luck yet. However, I do have a way to save money...shop yard sales! Actually, this can actually be a way to earn money as well. My husband is always on the look out for silver items. This weekend, he found several spoons which I will be taking to our local Cash for Gold and Silver store this afternoon. I'll let you know how that turns out later.
Today I wanted to show you a fun yard sale find. Until this weekend, we have been keeping our laptop on a little table next to the tv. Since the laptop is old, it has to stay plugged in all the time so you have to use it where it is, or drag it to the nearest chair. The battery pack and cord are always out in the open, just waiting for someone to trip over them. But this weekend, husband found this little cabinet:
Money has certainly been on my mind lately. I am a substitute teacher, and we are at the end of our summer, so I haven't been paid for eight weeks now. I have been searching for ways to earn extra money, but no luck yet. However, I do have a way to save money...shop yard sales! Actually, this can actually be a way to earn money as well. My husband is always on the look out for silver items. This weekend, he found several spoons which I will be taking to our local Cash for Gold and Silver store this afternoon. I'll let you know how that turns out later.
Today I wanted to show you a fun yard sale find. Until this weekend, we have been keeping our laptop on a little table next to the tv. Since the laptop is old, it has to stay plugged in all the time so you have to use it where it is, or drag it to the nearest chair. The battery pack and cord are always out in the open, just waiting for someone to trip over them. But this weekend, husband found this little cabinet:
What does this have to do with my laptop you ask?
Well, just watch this:
A nifty compartment to hold the lap top, and a flip-up desk.
I tried to put another picture with the laptop all set up, but it isn't working for some reason.
I digress...The point is, you can find some really cool stuff at yard sales for a fraction of the price.
Yard sale tip: If you wait until later in the day, you could get a really great deal. Of course, someone could buy what you want as well. In this case, husband went back to the yard sale and offered $20 for this cabinet. They were originally asking $50, but accepted his offer. Did I mention the bottom drawer is a file drawer? Now I can move my files out of the laundry room! Woo-hoo!
Dear Lord, Thank you for always meeting all of our needs and then some. Thank you for a husband who loves to yard sale shop. Thank You for this fun little nook to type this blog.
In Jesus name I pray--Amen
Friday, July 25, 2014
Gluten Free Week 2 Plan and Results
Week Two, here we go! Result are in italics.
Breakfast:
Same as Week 1
Lunch:
Same as Week 1
Dinner:
Sunday: Grill up lots of chicken. :) Freeze for week. Veggie packs on grill. Gluten Free Mac and Cheese - Annie's - from Walmart. The Mac and Cheese was good, but $2.56 a box. We ate two boxes!
Monday: Green Spaghetti using leftover grilled chicken. Broccoli, salad-caesar?, fruit
*Cook gluten-free spaghetti and drain. Combine one small jar pesto sauce and one small container of shredded parmesan cheese in pot and stir until combined. Add spaghetti and chicken a little bit at a time and mix to coat. Put lid on pan until ready to serve-the chicken will heat up in the pot. We love this! It is a definite favorite in our house. No one noticed the change in pasta.
Tuesday: Taco lettuce wraps, refrieds, Spanish rice, ?
*Cook up a double batch of ground beef. Add taco seasoning to some and set aside the rest. Set up a buffet type taco bar: olives, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, etc. Don't forget the lettuce to wrap it up in! And, probably, corn chips. Oops! I defrosted shredded beef on accident. No worries, just cooked up shredded beef "enchiladas" instead. Layer corn tortillas, beef, cheese, sauce, repeat. Cook until bubbly.
Wednesday: Chicken Stir Fry using leftover grilled chicken and Teriyaki sauce. Snap peas, water chestnuts, and whatever else you like. Serve with rice and broccoli. Yummy
Thursday: Indian style ground beef This was good. I was surprised...I didn't think I would like the spices, but this will be a keeper. Similar to Asian Ground Beef Stir Fry, but different seasonings. Added fresh cucumber from the garden. Served with rice.
Friday: Hubby is grilling London broil. He's cutting it thin, and making enough for weekend lunches. Salad, veggies, fruit Contemplating more mac and cheese. :)
Snacks:
Peanut butter balls I forgot how good these are. I only had time for a single batch, but will likely make a double batch as soon as they are gone. Kids have been eating them for breakfast along with a banana. Peanut butter, oats, raw honey, better than your average cereal!
Z bars (made by Cliff bars)
Lots of fruit and veggies
nachos (with real cheese of course!)
So far, so good. We've found a lot of snacks/chips that we like. The real test will come tomorrow if we go out of town. Will we pack our food or attempt to eat out? It takes two weeks for the gluten to get out of your system, I would hate to mess that up when we are so close! My daughter started taking fiber as her body was noticing the difference. I hope we make it through the weekend. I would hate for this to be in vain!
Dear Lord, Please give us the strength to keep going. May it be abundantly clear if this is how we should be eating or if gluten doesn't affect us. We desire to be healthy and ready to do your work! In Jesus Name-Amen
Breakfast:
Same as Week 1
Lunch:
Same as Week 1
Dinner:
Sunday: Grill up lots of chicken. :) Freeze for week. Veggie packs on grill. Gluten Free Mac and Cheese - Annie's - from Walmart. The Mac and Cheese was good, but $2.56 a box. We ate two boxes!
Monday: Green Spaghetti using leftover grilled chicken. Broccoli, salad-caesar?, fruit
*Cook gluten-free spaghetti and drain. Combine one small jar pesto sauce and one small container of shredded parmesan cheese in pot and stir until combined. Add spaghetti and chicken a little bit at a time and mix to coat. Put lid on pan until ready to serve-the chicken will heat up in the pot. We love this! It is a definite favorite in our house. No one noticed the change in pasta.
Tuesday: Taco lettuce wraps, refrieds, Spanish rice, ?
*Cook up a double batch of ground beef. Add taco seasoning to some and set aside the rest. Set up a buffet type taco bar: olives, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, etc. Don't forget the lettuce to wrap it up in! And, probably, corn chips. Oops! I defrosted shredded beef on accident. No worries, just cooked up shredded beef "enchiladas" instead. Layer corn tortillas, beef, cheese, sauce, repeat. Cook until bubbly.
Wednesday: Chicken Stir Fry using leftover grilled chicken and Teriyaki sauce. Snap peas, water chestnuts, and whatever else you like. Serve with rice and broccoli. Yummy
Thursday: Indian style ground beef This was good. I was surprised...I didn't think I would like the spices, but this will be a keeper. Similar to Asian Ground Beef Stir Fry, but different seasonings. Added fresh cucumber from the garden. Served with rice.
Friday: Hubby is grilling London broil. He's cutting it thin, and making enough for weekend lunches. Salad, veggies, fruit Contemplating more mac and cheese. :)
Snacks:
Peanut butter balls I forgot how good these are. I only had time for a single batch, but will likely make a double batch as soon as they are gone. Kids have been eating them for breakfast along with a banana. Peanut butter, oats, raw honey, better than your average cereal!
Z bars (made by Cliff bars)
Lots of fruit and veggies
nachos (with real cheese of course!)
So far, so good. We've found a lot of snacks/chips that we like. The real test will come tomorrow if we go out of town. Will we pack our food or attempt to eat out? It takes two weeks for the gluten to get out of your system, I would hate to mess that up when we are so close! My daughter started taking fiber as her body was noticing the difference. I hope we make it through the weekend. I would hate for this to be in vain!
Dear Lord, Please give us the strength to keep going. May it be abundantly clear if this is how we should be eating or if gluten doesn't affect us. We desire to be healthy and ready to do your work! In Jesus Name-Amen
Seasoning with Efficiency - Taco Seasoning
Taco seasoning is used in my kitchen quite a bit. Therefore, I make it in bulk and store it in my cabinet for easy use. Making it reminds me of the fun I had using colored sand or salt as a kid to make art in little baby food jars. I don't think I am explaining that correctly... I remember layering the colored sand into little jars and making pictures with it. Layering all the seasonings in the pint jar is fun and it looks pretty. :)
Recipe:
1/2 c chili powder
1/3 c + a little bit more paprika
1/4 c + 2 TBSP cumin
1/4 c onion powder
1/4 c salt
3 TBSP + 1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Layer in a pint sized jar and admire the beauty. The shake it up until mixed.
**I do not actually measure out the extra TBSP and tsp. I just eyeball it and it turns out just fine. When I increased the recipe on allrecipes.com, this is what it came out to be.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
School Lunch Emergency!
Dear LORD, Thank You for ideas like these. Thank You for my husband. In Jesus name-- Amen
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Early Dinnertime!
Sigh, today is the first day of school, and I am missing my kids! Many great things have happened this summer. Our family has settled into a nice routine. One major thing that will be different this year is dinner. Usually, the kids and I get home from school and we are HUNGRY! We kick back and eat, eat, eat. Then it's time to make dinner. Do you see the problem here? I end up rushing around trying to get a million things done and cook dinner at the same time. My daughter and I usually end up in some sort of passionate argument because I am stressed to the max knowing that when hubby gets home he will be as hungry as we were, and VERY grumpy if he can't eat right away.
Gone are these days! It is official: dinner time is 4 pm. We tested this out two days ago, and it was amazing! The kids and I ate a healthy dinner, and things were cleaned up and stress free when Dad got home. We don't eat dinner with Dad, but we do relax with him, and have time to play afterward. I spent the evening marveling at how peaceful and joyful life could be. I think this is the way to go for us. How about your family? Spend some time watching and praying about what would be best in your household.
Dear Father, thank You for this revelation. I think You have been prompting me for quite some time, and I am thankful that You didn't give up! In Jesus Name I pray-- Amen
Gone are these days! It is official: dinner time is 4 pm. We tested this out two days ago, and it was amazing! The kids and I ate a healthy dinner, and things were cleaned up and stress free when Dad got home. We don't eat dinner with Dad, but we do relax with him, and have time to play afterward. I spent the evening marveling at how peaceful and joyful life could be. I think this is the way to go for us. How about your family? Spend some time watching and praying about what would be best in your household.
Dear Father, thank You for this revelation. I think You have been prompting me for quite some time, and I am thankful that You didn't give up! In Jesus Name I pray-- Amen
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