As I was reading in the New Testament this afternoon, I was overcome with gratitude that Jesus Christ died for me, for you, for all of us. His sacrifice for us was made with pure love. If we have Faith, we have access to His Grace. In this we can rejoice! (For those who want to read it: Romans chapter 5.) There is so much to rejoice in as we put our Faith and trust in God.
But what about when we are wading through trials and the hard times just don't let up? So many of us have gone through long, drawn out difficulties. When we are are deep in the trenches, we can't always see our way out or how we could possibly grow or learn from the experience. We are just trying to make it through day by day. These verses also talked about rejoicing in tribulation, for trials give us patience, experience, and hope. So much of our learning depends upon where we put our focus. When we keep our eyes on the Savior and reach out to Him, our trials are our best teachers.
When my back was broken by a doctor, I suffered so much pain in my body and had a long, difficult healing journey. However, I chose to look to God in Faith. I continued with my daily spiritual habits, which kept me close to Him. I focused on doing my best to care for my infant, even though there were times when I needed a lot of help. I also worked hard to attain my goal of graduating college, even though I considered quitting many times. I was able to grow and learn, and also rejoice in the good things of life, no matter how small.
One thing we can remember is that we are loved, especially when trials overtake us and seemingly keep us down. God will send the Holy Ghost into our hearts which comforts and guides us while we are in the dark. So many of us go through trials in our lives that are so difficult, we wouldn't wish them on anyone else. Yet, when our focus is on the love of our Savior, we still have reason to rejoice!
During my own trials, I have truly felt loved. I know God was right there beside me and He sent others to bless my life. He helped me see the good that was right in front of me and He gave me strength as I cared for my children. He helped me see that I was worth advocating for, and that I could choose joy through my trials.
Have you gone through something difficult recently? Were you able to rejoice during that time? How did you get through? Did you feel loved and did you choose joy? I would love to hear your story!
If you would like to hear more of my story, I have written about it in this book, which is full of inspiring stories of 25 women who chose Joy amid life's difficulties.
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When you have little ones, the sleep deprivation is real!! I have a lot of memories that are fuzzy because I was so tired that I felt like I was in a dream. It is a wonderful, joyous time! And an exhausting time, too. Hopefully my journey will help you with yours!
My 2nd baby was up every 2 hours for the whole first year. I became pregnant when he was barely a year, and I stopped breastfeeding. Poor little guy, he was upset and would try to tear at my shirt, but my milk was gone. It wasn't until then that he learned to sleep without help. It was not without a little fussing, mostly because he wanted to nurse, but it happened rather quickly.
My 6th was on the same schedule every 2 hours, which made me even more tired, as I no longer had time to take naps. But even when I stopped breastfeeding, she was up at night. I had to do some gentle sleep training with her. I started at nap time, with a short routine of a song, a book, and a cuddle, then put her in her crib awake. I would sit in the room and read a book. I gradually moved my chair toward the door. Then I moved outside the room. Next, I closed the door. She was able to learn to fall asleep on her own for her nap while still feeling secure that I was near. There were some tears, but it was not anything like the "cry it out method" which I disagree with. When she was upset, I would go and talk to her gently and touch her without picking her up. When nap time was solid, I started the same routine at night. It worked so quickly! Then, when she would wake at night, I would repeat the same routine. Eventually, she learned to go back to sleep at night without my presence. This process took several months, and she became my best sleeper!
With my 7th, I was determined not to have another that kept me up all night, even though he seemed to be on the same schedule. When he was just 3 months old, I started rubbing a little lavender oil on his feet before bed. This worked very well and he extended his time asleep for the first stretch at night. Within 2 months, he was sleeping through the night 7-8 hours. It was amazing!! I did have a routine that I stuck to, but he never needed any more than that because the lavender worked so well. It was such a blessing to be able to sleep so soon! Starting early with the routine and the lavender were the key!
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I used to unconsciously buy cleaners at the store. I never looked at labels except to compare scents. Then I started learning about the dangers of specific chemicals. I knew that some cleaners bothered me and some made my asthma act up, but I didn't know that certain chemicals could cause cancer, reproductive problems and many other problems. One day, I went through my house and literally threw everything away. I was done! I did take some unopened cleaners back to the store, but the rest were trashed.
Have you read the ingredients on your cleaners? You may be unpleasantly surprised at what you find!
After reading the ingredients on the *S---* Scrub bottle, I could no longer support the company. So I set out to replace it with natural ingredients. After some experimenting, this is the best combination I have found! ( In the video, I say baking powder once- mom brain - it is baking soda! It will not do the same thing with baking powder, I promise!)
Try it! It is great for a lot of applications! I love it for sinks, counters, grout, floors, toilets, and bathtubs especially.
Recipe below.
3/4 cup Thieves Household Cleaner
3 cups baking soda
Stir wet, then dry ingredients.
You can find my favorite ingredients here!
Like this? Check out my Youtube channel for more videos as they come out!
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Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for supporting us!
My blogs contain some affiliate links.
Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for supporting us!
Looking for Immunity? Start with these!
Cruciferous vegetables are so amazing for your body!
Arugula
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Broccoli rabe
Broccolini
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Collard Greens
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Radishes
Rutabaga
Turnips/Turnip greens
Watercress
Wasabi
Did you know that Cruciferous vegetables detoxify your body? Consuming a variety of these on a daily basis (along with other healthy choices) gives you a huge boost and protection against infection and cancer. (Dr. Fuhrman, Super Immunity)
It is best to eat around 2 servings per day of these veggies - 1 raw (chew really well), 1 cooked (but don't over cook).
Experiment with these. You may be surprised that they taste great!
I love to combine rutabaga and turnips with carrots, onions, garlic, and potatoes and roast them covered in the oven.
Cut into small pieces, pour in vegetable broth to about an inch. Sprinkle with sea salt, onion powder, and oregano. (You can use oregano vitality oil instead of dried for a more robust flavor, but remember 1-2 drops is enough) 350 for 1 hr 30 min.
Most of these are great steamed with a little salt, or raw in a salad. There are a lot of creative recipes, but watch out for those that add in foods that are not healthy!
Happy eating!
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I love our Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins! The time we have together and the memories we have built are priceless! And, as my husband will attest, I love all things pumpkin! Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, pumpkin soup, pumpkin plain, pumpkin fancy! I looked around at a bunch of pumpkin recipes, and as I looked at the many variations, I decided to experiment and make my own creation.
Here is the result! Mmm! My sixteen year old said after eating her taco, "I hate pumpkin, so thank you! You finally found a pumpkin recipe I like!"
Pumpkin tacos
small head of cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2-3 cups of pumpkin, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup olive oil (just to barely coat)
1 lime juiced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
toss together to coat
bake at 400 for 30 minutes
(For a variation, cannellini beans can be tossed in with the pumpkin after baking)
Toppings
shredded cabbage (I like purple best)
tomato, chopped
red onion, sliced
guacamole (see below)
Jalapeno cilantro sauce
1/2 cup cilantro
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno
1 cup coconut milk
blend until smooth
Guacamole
1 avocado
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 roma tomato, diced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 drops lime vitality essential oil
mash avocado, add the rest, mix, and enjoy!
Serve with whole wheat or
To assemble
Pile cabbage first, then pumpkin/cauliflower mixture, then the other toppings and sauce!
Enjoy! I know I did, as the kids had to tell me to stop making noises! lol!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! Adding variety to our diet is the best way to get all the nutrients we need for optimal health!
Join our Veggie Up!! Challenge to up your veggie game and feel the difference as your body thanks you!
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