Naturally Healthy Living

“you’ll spend the majority of your life knowing your children as adults. But for a brief moment you’ll get the chance to know them as children.”

A few years ago I realized if I didn’t change some things, I would be absent from many of my children’s memories. While I had believed that the work I was doing was giving them opportunities and experiences they “needed” to have a full life, the truth was that nothing could replace their mother being present. I realized I wanted them to remember their childhood with their mother part of it.

So I stepped way back and slowed down. I left the hustle life, I learned to enjoy being present, to appreciate the mundane, to cherish the simple and find joy in the daily routines that are so intricately woven into the threads of motherhood and daily home life.

This meant less income, but more opportunities to be present. To connect, to teach, to learn. I learned about myself and what it meant to lean into motherhood as the work assigned to me and what God wanted to teach me through the lessons of service, sacrifice, and solitude.

But I don’t just want to be in their memories, I don’t want to miss out on these short days I have with them before their laughter and arguments are distant echos in a quiet house. I want to enjoy these days and remember that being able to be with them during these years is a blessing. I want these precious days to fill my memories as well.

So I am thankful for the wake-up call, thankful for the opportunity to be intentional with the time I have with my children. Thankful for the time I’ve had to learn activities that involve my children’s interests while being home, plus other projects that have enriched our days without requiring my absence.

Motherhood has been such a journey, such a gift. Hard but worth it. It has shown me a side of myself I never knew existed. I’m thankful the Lord has given me this work, thankful for His grace each day as I lean on Him to help me do this work well.

**photo taken on an evening stroll during my 10yo’s soccer practice

New to essential oils? Here’s some basic info to help you use those oils effectively starting day 1!

**always follow the recommended usage of the company where you choose to purchase your oils! Some companies do NOT recommend using their oils internally. Check with your brand to see what they suggest! Only use oils internally that have done the necessary testing to ensure safety.❤️

There are three basic ways to use your oils! It really is SO simple to incorporate these into your routine, and you’ll love reaching for them daily for wellness!

First, using them aromatically is the easiest and quickest way to start experiencing their benefits. Just taking the cap off and enjoying the aroma can support emotional health, mental health, and respiratory health. You don’t even have to use a single drop!

Diffusers are a great way to use oils aromatically in the home, as they release water and oils in a fine mist. These can replace air fresheners, room sprays and other sources of toxic artificial fragrances.

Second, using oils topically provides benefits both aromatically, and can also be soothing for discomfort, supportive for immune function, respiratory health, and a gentle way to promote internal health. Because oils are highly concentrated, I suggest using a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil when using topically. 1 drop EO to 1tsp FCO is a good starting place. HOT oils such as oregano, thyme, lemongrass, cinnamon, and cassia should be diluted even more.

Third, **some** oils can be used internally! This is a great way to support the digestive tract, filtering organs, nervous system, and immune function. Use citrus in your water for flavor (only use glass or stainless steel!), copaiba or frankincense under the tongue for nervous system and immune support, peppermint on the tongue for digestive support, or add a drop of peppermint or fennel to a vegetable capsule for digestive support.

Tell me which of these ways you’ve used oils today!

The man we know as St. Patrick was born in Britain, but was kidnapped at age 15 by Irish pirates and sold to a druid in Ireland, working many years as a herdsman for his captors. It was then that he came to know Christ, and he spent many hours in prayer during those long, hard days. At the age of 22 he was finally able to escape back to Britain. Years later he had a dream and felt a call to return to Ireland and serve and minister to the Irish people. He then returned to Ireland, teaching about Christ there until his death, which is thought to have been around March 17, 461 AD.

I love the song that shares the words of the prayer in this post and didn’t realize until recently that it was based on the prayer of St. Patrick. I’m thankful for his faith and his example in obedience to going where Christ calls, even if it means hard work and sacrifice. What a privilege it is to share the gospel, to share the hope found in Jesus, wherever we are, however we can, with whatever tools God gives us.

When I was first starting out with essential oils, one of the things I found so fascinating was that they came from plants that I had been eating and enjoying my whole life. There wasn’t anything weird or complicated about them. They are simply the aromatic compounds that someone experiences when they enjoy the aroma of that plant.

Essential oils come from the leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, bark, and other parts of various beneficial plants. Each part of the plant contains a unique aromatic profile and different chemical compounds. For example, the orange tree can produce three different and unique essential oils; neroli oil comes from the delicate orange blossoms, orange essential oil comes from the rind of the orange fruit, and petitgrain essential oil comes from the leaves and twigs of the tree. Three essential oils with very different fragrances and different chemical constituents that provide different benefits for us.

Essential oils are one of the primary defensive mechanisms of the plant. They naturally deter pests, protect against environmental threats, and help the plant to recover from injury. It’s so cool how we can experience many of those same benefits when we use them to help us stay well physically, emotionally, mentally.

It takes a lot of plant material to extract these aromatic compounds, which means essential oils are highly concentrated. It is so important that the oils being used for therapeutic benefit are pure for this reason, because just a little can be so powerful. Even just one drop is enough many times to provide relief.

We are still just starting to uncover the extensive ways these oils help us, how they support healthy sleep, soothe discomfort and stress, promote digestive health, support our immune systems, and so much more. These simple drops of oil with their big impact in so many lives.

I love learning more about these beautiful gifts! Do you have a fun fact you’ve learned recently? Is any of this info new to you?

May satisfaction in Jesus be my greatest and highest pursuit. May I come to more fully understand what it means to count all things as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

May knowing Him be my greatest treasure. That all my efforts and desire would be for the gain of Him and not in pursuit of things that are empty, vain, and hollow compared to His fullness and joy, things He gives now, right now, in the present moment - not something awarded one day.

That all these gifts He gives be used not for my own pleasure and satisfaction but in service to my King and Savior. To have Christ is to have all my soul desires. Nothing in this life can add to what He has given.

Even the greatest pleasures in this life are dull and empty compared to the incomparable worth of His presence, peace, and love.

Jesus is the surpassing treasure. He is the Riches that outweigh all else.

Instead of pursuing temporary pleasures, pursue Christ above all. Lifting up all He gives back to Him in worship and praise. No house, no paycheck, no material possession, no place on earth where my feet could stand, no experience I could ever encounter compares to His wonderful greatness.

All these fade, but Christ remains.

Let Christ be your highest love and greatest treasure to have for all, over all, through all. He is worthy of our devotion and sacrifice and contentment. To be content in Christ is to have everything. When I use my time and resources and energy to know Him better what I gain in return is priceless.

You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

It’s possible to dye eggs without using artificial colors! I love how beautiful these turned out using natural sources of dyes. Have you tried any of these?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What a gift it is to be able to give thanks, no matter what the circumstance may be.

Giving thanks, not just for tradition’s sake, but regularly, intentionally - not to an impersonal universe, but to its Creator who knows us, who knows every hair on our heads, who places us in situations and relationships for a purpose - is a balm for the soul. Even when the path has more questions than answers, when the way ahead is unclear, in times of grief or loneliness, in the long and weary seasons when prayers seem to go unanswered, there is truth that brings to recollection the overwhelming mercy and grace that has already been given. Gratitude is the response to undeserved kindness and love poured out in Christ Jesus.

Gratitude fuels faith in the One who brings us new days, new breath, new opportunities to learn and grow and know Him better. Gratitude for what has been done reminds us to wait with patient expectation for the work He is still doing and the fulfillment of His promises.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Today as I reflect on the practice of thankfulness, I realize that this too is a good gift from God I get to participate in over and over again. Road markers on my journey that remind me of His faithfulness and encourage me to keep seeking Jesus every day, to keep asking for wisdom, direction, and understanding to know how to honor Him with these good gifts He has given.

I pray your faith would also be encouraged as you give thanks to our great God for the good things He has placed in your life. That your faith would be strengthened, and that you would also have wisdom to know how to best use these good things. That as your faith is strengthened, your worry, fear, grief, sorrow, would be overwhelmed by His peace and love that are without measure and beyond understanding.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. Each of you is a good gift and I am so thankful for you and the connection that God has given us in this corner of social media❤️🍁

Use natural options instead! It’s so easy to make your own room spray with water and essential oils! 😊

87 Chemicals Found in Febreze

The first thing that is really important to understand: the product does not remove odor molecules and it doesn't clean the item it comes into contact with.

The odor molecules are still there. Your nose just can't perceive them because you smell the chemical product instead.

That alone should be your first warning. We know inhalation of any chemicals is dangerous, and several of its ingredients listed below are known to irritate the lungs...but this is a chemical whose entire purpose is to be inhaled!

Unfortunately there is not much data being shared on Febreze and their many products, but the Environmental Working Group (EWG) did conduct a test for the ingredients of one of their products, Febreze Air Effects.

Shockingly, P&G only disclosed THREE ingredients in this product, but the EWG...they found 87 chemicals in total!

Now this is just one Febreze product, but the fact that only 3 ingredients were disclosed and that so many undisclosed ingredients are dangerous, it's safe to assume that their other air freshners are just as dangerous.

Febreze Ingredients

Below you'll find a list of just some of the 87 chemicals found by the EWG in Febreze Air Effects, listed in order of their toxicity to humans:

BHT - Known as a neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity, skin eye and lung irritator

Acetaldehyde - Known to cause cancer, toxic to reproduction and development, immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin, skin, eye and lung irritator

"Fragrance" - One of the three ingredients actually disclosed, it's a neurotoxin, immunotoxin and allergen

Propylene Glycol - Causes cancer, allergies, toxic to immune system, accumulates in the system, non-reproductive organ system toxin, is classified with "enhanced skin absorption" and irritates the skin, eye and lung

1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol - Carcinogenic (causes cancer)

Limonene - Allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Methyl pyrrolidone - Toxin to reproduction and development, allergen and immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Alcohol denatured - Also disclosed in the ingredients of Febreze, it's linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Butylphenyl methylpropion al - allergen, immunotoxin and and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Ethyl acetate - linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, organic system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Geraniol - Linked to allergies, immunotoxicity, organi system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritation

Linalool - allergen, immunotoxin, and and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Benzaldehyde - neurotoxin, and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether - non-reproductive organ system toxicity

Ethylhezanol - developmental and reproductive toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator

Hexyl cinnamal - allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
And way too many more...
http://www.ewg.org/research/greener-school-cleaning-supplies/school-cleaner-test-results?schoolprod=219

It matters what products you use on your skin! Lessen your toxic load and support your immune system, your gut health, mental health and SO much more. Choose products that are made with natural ingredients (or make them yourself!)

“A Food and Drug Administration-assembled board of advisers has determined that the most popular decongestant ingredient on the market is not actually effective in treating nasal congestion.

The group of experts gathered by the FDA unanimously voted on Tuesday, declaring ingredient phenylephrine to be no more effective than a placebo pill, according to review materials shared by the agency.”

Ditch the cold and flu meds that don’t work anyway and use natural options that really help your body recover from threats to the immune system! ❤️

Read full article here ➡️ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/09/12/fda-panel-declares-decongestant-phenylephrine-ineffective/70835249007/

https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2023-09-12/a-popular-nasal-decongestant-doesnt-actually-relieve-congestion-fda-advisers-say

https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/2015/10/14/uf-researchers-ask-fda-to-remove-non-prescription-decongestant-from-the-market/

This is for you if you want to replace toxic, harsh cleaning products with more gentle options that still work! This recipe contains gentle cleaning ingredients that will still leave your surfaces clean and shiny without exposure to harsh chemicals. I even let my 10yo use this to clean our bathroom counters and sinks the other day, and it worked so well! Have you ever made scouring powder?

Scouring Powder Ingredients:
¼ cup Baking Soda
2 tablespoons Washing Soda
2 tablespoons non GMO citric acid
2 tablespoons kosher salt
10 drops EO of choice (I used lemon)

Instructions

Pour ingredients into jar or bowl.
Mix or stir until well mixed.
Store in an air tight container and add a shaker lid for easy use.

To Use:
Lightly wet surface with water (I use a spray bottle to spritz the area beforehand)
Sprinkle powder on and let sit 2 minutes
Scrub with sturdy brush or wipe with damp cloth
Rinse with water or vinegar

Let me know if you make this and what you think! Or if you use a different recipe for scouring powder tell me in the comments below!
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Hey mama

The work you’re doing matters.

It is hard and holy work.

It is a gift. It is a gauntlet.

It is a valley and a mountaintop.

It is precarious and precious

a door that opens to a deeper understanding of grace, day by day.

Nothing can replace you in the life of your child.

Your child will be without you longer than they are with you.

The days are long but the years are truly short.

Lord, help me to remember the incredible value and blessing of motherhood. Help me appreciate the challenges and the joys that come with this season. Help me to learn to lean into You in the hard and be grateful in the good.

Happy Mother’s Day❤️