It Just Takes Time

December 24, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

98 year-old Thurston Frazier, Todd’s granddad – a/k/a ‘Daddy Pete’.

Every time we leave Alabama we don’t know if it will be our last with him, but God keeps gracing and blessing us with yet another sweet visit.

This right here…

This scene right here sums up all he desires, to spend time talking and reminiscing with his loved ones.

To see Todd and Daddy Pete talk and laugh and go over story after story after story, and usually the same story due to his dementia…it just hit me all of a sudden what precious memories we are making.

Oh, I always know how precious these sweet moments are, but it just hit me in the gut today for some reason.

It doesn’t take money to make precious memories. It doesn’t take anything big or fancy. It doesn’t have to be jaw dropping experiences. What does it take? Time. That’s all it takes to make sweet precious memories that will last a lifetime. Time together…that’s all.

Most of the time, the more simple the scene the more heart-stopping memories. I’ve enjoyed making memories with other family and friends over the last couple of days. I’m missing those whom we can’t connect with over the holidays. I’m looking forward to making more memories with more family over the next few days. Beyond that? I don’t know what tomorrow holds…none of us do. But I do know this: My vow for the new year forward is to take advantage of these moments and make memories with loved ones…those near and far, because each day that passes is a day we can’t get back. As I type this I am reminded of my sweet mother who has been with the Lord 15 years (will be 16 years in January.)

Precious memories, how they linger…

A Little Bit of Mustard Goes A Long Way

November 3, 2018November 3, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I was reminded this morning that a little bit of mustard goes a long way. Just a Lil dab ‘il do ya! Now, I love mustard, A LOT, and I can use quite a bit on a hot dog or a burger and never miss a beat — it’s soooo good! But have you ever just put mustard on your food of choice and it ends up getting everywhere unnoticed?!?

Our staff prepared lunch for our church members one day this week – burgers and hot dogs – and as I was eating mine, it seemed like the mustard just multiplied like the bread and the fish!! I mean….it was oozing out the side of my sandwich, was all over my fingers – on both hands, mind you – was on the palms of my hands, it covered my napkin – front and back – and STILL had the promise of landing in places I wouldn’t find until later that day! I love mustard, but puh-lease!! Somehow it always seems to find a way to multiply!

Yes…mustard does seem to multiply, but I’m not actually talking about the kind you spread on your food.

As much as this is the case for yellow mustard, so is the case for the simple mustard seed. I wasn’t just blowing smoke when I said I was reminded this morning that a little mustard goes a long way.

My Bible reading this morning took me back to the lunch this week and reinforced the promise that a little mustard (seed) goes a long way.

This is just one of the Bibles I use during my quiet time, and it has been my favorite for years. You may not can tell, but the Bible cover is basically what is holding it together. It is the New Century Version with devotions by Max Lucado.

As I picked it up to read out of Matthew this morning, I found Matthew 17:20 underlined with a name and a date written beside it.

This took me back to February 2007 when we were praying for a dear lady who was every bit on the brink of death, but the faith of those who steadily prayed for her on this tough journey was enough for God to let us know that He still had plans for her on this earth! Praise God, she is alive and well today and a daily walking testimony of His healing!

Jesus began this verse in Matthew by saying “Your faith is too small,” but in verse 17 above it, he says “You people have no faith…how long must I be patient with you?”

Did you get that? —>> “...NO faith…”

He then continues in verse 20 by saying that “if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you.”

I’m no theologian, but my take on this scripture that claims ‘your faith is too small’ means ‘you have no faith at all’! If all it takes is the faith of a mustard seed, as small as it is, then having too little faith means we don’t have any faith at all.

Why don’t we trust God more?

I’m guilty as charged.

There are many things in which I’ve been trusting God for a while now, and there will continue to be those things that only He can make come to fruition. After all, it is Him who is in ultimate control, but I confess that my faith waivers at times. When things don’t happen soon enough, I tend to let my flesh take over and fail to be “… joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” as we are commanded to do in Romans 12:12. Allowing your flesh to take over is dangerous, for then you are not working in God’s power but your own…and you have no power. This can only end up one way: disastrous.

About a year ago, I purchased a couple of items from Marianne at ‘Gracefully Wrapped‘, a site that I happened upon around that time on Instagram. I made the purchase, a mustard seed necklace, for a friend who found out that there were multiple complications with her unborn child. I bought it for her as a reminder that we would be praying for her child and her family during this difficult season of life. I am a visual person, so I bought that to serve as a visual reminder to give her a bit of hope every time she looked at it. I am happy to say that a year later, this little miracle is at home and doing well. She still has to be under 24/7 medical care, but the fact that she is home with her family is nothing short of a miracle! And, might I add, she is the most precious, adorable little miracle … with a face that brightens any room and a smile like a cup of sunshine! We are praising God for what He has done in her life and the testimony she is speaking on a daily basis without even saying a word!

While I was making the purchase for my friend, I decided that I could always use a visual reminder for myself as well. My item of choice was this mustard seed bracelet.

I wanted something that I could see every moment of the day…not just when I put it around my neck. I know the item itself has no powers at all, of course, but mine has served as a daily reminder of that little piece of faith that is required to please God, for ‘without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). I use this bracelet DAILY as this specific reminder and have found it very useful in grounding me for the moment and bringing me back to God’s promise that all things are possible with Him.

I never take this bracelet off. I even shower with it on, but I don’t suggest that for everyone! (haha) I do put coconut oil on it afterward to help keep it conditioned, but I keep anticipating the day it will fall off my arm! Hopefully, Marianne will have plenty in stock for me to replace it! I love Marianne’s products so much, I’d like to put in a little plug for her Gracefully Wrapped Etsy shop. It isn’t just her products I love so much, I love what she stands for and her sweet, gentle spirit, and you can see that in every piece she makes.

So, with the help of Marianne and her mustard seed bracelet, I am reminded every day that I must have faith in God for those things which I petition in prayer daily.

Whether it be yellow mustard or a mustard seed … it doesn’t take much.

A little mustard goes a long way.

Do you find your faith waivers when it seems like an answer isn’t in the near future?

For what are you trusting God in your life today?

Blessings to you today,

Purpose over Profit

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9

I mentioned last week about being a part of a teaching on Wednesday nights at church called ‘Counter Culture’ by David Platt.

This past week was a teaching/discussion on ‘human life’ which covered abortion, sex trafficking and the like. Todd, my husband, facilitates the class so he is reading more material than that required of the participants.

After viewing the video and reading the material covered in this particular session, he was overwhelmed at the statistics and facts he discovered, especially in regards to sex trafficking. Not only was he overwhelmed at the statistics, but his heart was breaking for those children who were made slaves to this devastating practice. I can’t remember the statistics, but most of the children made slaves to trafficking are around the age of 9 years old. This fact alone, not to mention all the other ugly details, was one of those things that was so devastating to Todd. He is a PE teacher for classes Pre-K through 4th grade. His 3rd graders are around this age. To imagine this kind of debauchery forced upon these innocent children was just too much to bear.

Right before class on the evening of this particular lesson on human life, I was going through some Young Living materials. If you know me, then you already know I’ve recently fallen in love with essential oils and Young Living is the brand I chose. I chose YL based on the longevity of their company as well as the purity of their oils and their ‘seed to seal’ promise. In reading this material, however, I found even more reasons to love Young Living. The Young Living Foundation provides “wellness and education opportunities to underserved communities” through seven different projects, one of which is the ‘Hope for Justice’ project. The mission of ‘Hope for Justice’ is “to end human trafficking and slavery, in our generation.”

Now, I do not think it is a coincidence that I found this material on the same night that we were to discuss this very issue, and this is just one more reason to love Young Living even more.

I try to do as much research as I can when taking a plunge as big as the one I took when I became a part of the Young Living family of essential oils. I felt as though I did enough research to justify choosing Young Living over other reputable companies, but having learned of their projects to help empower underserved communities has now made me even more sure of my decision.

Of course, anyone who is in business HAS to make a profit in order to survive, but Gary Young, the founder of Young Living, says this: “I don’t make a product for a profit, I make it for a purpose.”

Young Living - purpose over profit — *photo shared from onebreathatathyme.com*

Dory from onebreathatathyme.com breaks down the YLF purpose beautifully by giving insight to each of its projects. Click here to read not only about the YLF purpose but also her backstory leading her passion for it as well.

I’ve shared one of my favorite Bible verses with you before, but I deem it fitting to share it again now:

” … he who waters will himself be watered.”

(Proverbs 11:25)

If you’ve been interested in essential oils but aren’t quite sure about pulling the trigger at this point, click here to learn more about them. You can also ask me any questions and I will help you any way I can. If I don’t know the answer, I will find out!

If you know you are ready to get started with essential oils, click here!

Blessings to you today,

One Had Everything, One Had Nothing

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord;

He will reward you for what you have done” (Proverbs 19:17-NCV).

Todd is leading a Bible study every Wednesday night called Counter Culture by David Platt.

Last week’s session was on wealth and how we should be content with what we have all the while being willing to give/share even more of what we have to those around us who need it.

We’re all familiar with Philippians 4:13 that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, right? Well, have you read the verses that precede it? We take this scripture mentioned above and use it for whatever situation where strength, or the like, is desired (#guiltyascharged). However, the scriptures preceding it puts it into perspective for us.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

—>”… in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content ….”

– drawing strength from the Lord.

Let that sink in.

Observation:

Keep the highest standards for God in your thoughts and actions, keep your mind on Christ, and gain contentment. “To live is Christ, to die is gain” Philippians 1:21.

May we practice dying to self and sharing our wealth (whether it be money, food, time, etc.) with those around us who are in need; and may we be more aware of the needs of others and less self-aware as we do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

*I leave you with a story that pretty much sums this up. PLEASE take the time to read it. Todd used it in class Wednesday night, The original post came from Anthony Eaves and was reposted by a friend of ours. ↓ ↓ ↓

—-

One had everything and one had nothing.

I spent most of yesterday in Little Rock. I had dropped a load off at my company and was waiting for the time to take another one to Oklahoma. Earlier I had gone to the truck stop in my pick-up truck to get a sandwich. That is where I met a young lady sitting on the sidewalk by the door. She was asking people if they were heading towards Hope, Arkansas.

Most people ignored her and some walked way around her. Others just said no and kept going. I stopped and talked to her. She was in her late twenties and, to most people, she looked horrible. Her skin was almost like plastic and scaled. She wore a bandanna on her bald head and she had no eyebrows. I think she was a little surprised that I stopped and said hello.

She asked if I was going towards Hope and I told her no I’m a truck driver and I’m just here to get a sandwich before I go to Oklahoma. Oh, she said. Well, I’m from Hope. I’m just here in Little Rock for my chemo. I had breast cancer and both breasts removed. I have a disease called scleroderma which is why my skin looks this way. I told her yes I’m familiar with scleroderma; my wife has it. I told her. “You seem to be in a tight situation, kid. Do you have any family in Hope that can come to get you?” “No” she replied. “We just have the one vehicle and my husband told me on the phone that it’s broke down again. He won’t be able to get me ’til tomorrow. The doctors know our situation, so they gave me this so I don’t have to come to Little Rock as often.”

She raised her sleeve to show me a device attached to her that will pump chemo into her at home. “Well, do you have any money on you? “I asked. “No,” she said. “But Jesus will provide.” I slipped her a twenty I had on me and said “Well, now you do. Get yourself something to eat while you wait.”

She reached into her little bag and pulled out her Bible.

“Thank you, sir, for the money; I am hungry. Can I pray for you?”

“Sure,” I told her as I knelt down.

She opened her Bible to read a small scripture. Then she prayed for me. When she said amen I looked to my right and there was an older woman who was dressed quite well down on her knees next to us with her hands folded as if she had been praying also.

“I’m sorry,” she said “but I’ve been waiting out here for my husband. He’s using the restroom and getting us some coffee. I couldn’t help but overhear y’alls conversation. Miss, we are heading home to Texarkana and Hope is on the way. If you’d like, my husband and I could give you a ride?”

“That would be wonderful!” she said as she turned to me and said, “See, Jesus always provides a way for us if we just believe.”

The lady asked her husband if he would go in with the young lady to get her a hamburger. I went in and got my sandwich and my coffee. As I came out the man was helping the young lady into the back seat. His wife came up to me and said: “Sir, I just wanted to thank you.”

“For what,” I asked, as I hadn’t done anything for her. As she looked behind her at the young lady in the back of her car she said, “For restoring the faith in God of a woman with breast cancer. I think she’s had faith in God for a long time, the lady with that little Bible of hers.”

She turned and looked at me with tears in her eyes and said “I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about me. That’s why my husband and I are here in Little Rock. We just came from my doctor. You know,” she said, “on the surface, I look like I have everything, and she looks like she has nothing. But before I knelt down and prayed with y’all, her, with her faith, had everything that actually mattered…and I had nothing. Y’alls conversation and prayer reminded me where I came from and how I was raised. And looking at her I now have hope.”

So one had nothing, one had everything.

After that day, we all walked away with something.

Now What?

October 11, 2018January 9, 2020 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

UPDATE: As my use of essential oils has grown, so has my product list! If you want to see an updated list of the products that I have used to compliment my essential oils, click here.

So, you dove right in and bought some essential oils. Now what? What are you gonna do with them?

As promised, I am going to fill you in on some of the budget-friendly accessories I purchased to help make some fabulous oily blends/recipes!! (I get excited thinking about it!!) All of these are easy peasy buys from Amazon, and I will add a link for each one so you’ll be just one click away!

HEEEERE WE GO!

Essential Oils Pocket Reference 7th Edition — Essential Oils Pocket Reference

To start, my most ‘essential’ purchase (get it?? hee hee) was the Essential Oils Pocket Reference. This little gem is specific to Young Living and gives you the 4-1-1 on all the oils, even for those oils NOT included in the starter kit. This will help you get to know the oils in your starter kit as well as those oils that aren’t included and will help guide you to which oils to use for what purpose, the safe methods of use. It is a GREAT tool to use in getting to know which oils to use to target your specific needs. This is a little fella, but it is FULL of information!

Next, I purchased these essential oils roller bottles to help house the special blends that I make. Rollers are one of the best & easiest ways to use your oils topically, travel with them, or make your oils last longer! You get the same benefits from the oil when mixed with a carrier oil and placed in a roller bottle that you would get if applied directly. These particular roller bottles come with extra roller balls, labels, opener, funnel, and other goodies pictured!

TIPS:
> Always buy rollers with a steel or glass roller ball – never plastic! (The purity of the oils will weaken the plastic.)
> Get quality rollers so they don’t leak!

Essential Oils Roller Bottles - 12 PK Variety Kit — 12-PK Essential Oils Bottles Kit

I also purchased this 12-Pk Essential Oils Bottles Kit which includes some roller bottles as well as some large and small spray bottles. The larger spray bottles are used for my Thieves cleaner while the smaller spray bottles can be used for things such as room spray, oil sprays for your hair health, and one I’m about to try….. a poo spray! (“What did you say??! Whoa, Nelly! Too much info!!”) –> I can’t wait to make it and see how good it works!!

One thing you will definitely need if you are wanting to make different oily recipes is a carrier oil. For now, my carrier oil of choice is this Fractionated Coconut Oil. Carrier oils do not weaken the benefits you receive from your oils, they just allow for easier and better topical application as well as allowing your oils to last longer.

I plan on making a linen spray at some point soon so I will combine this witch hazel with lavender oil to make a dreamy spray! I am waiting to finish the one I’ve been using, though, but I can’t wait to make it!

Witch Hazel is a natural astringent, so you can also use it in combination with certain oils to make a facial toner.

One last thing that I’ve included in my essential oils cabinet (for now) is Rosehip Oil. I mentioned it in my last post, but this is the oil I use in combination with lavender, frankincense, and copaiba to make the Glow Face Serum that I absolutely LOVE! I use it morning and night!! You can also use jojoba oil, but be sure to use the correct oil for the benefit you are looking for in a facial serum. Each has similar yet different benefits. Jojoba oil is a lighter oil that is quickly absorbed in the skin and is usually good for all skin types. Rosehip oil is also good for all skin types but is especially good for dry, sensitive skin and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. This is the reason I chose rosehip oil. My face tends to be on the dryer side, and mama gettin’ on up in the age so more fine lines are making their appearance! My glow serum is helping me grow old gracefully!

Well….there ya have it! That’s ‘all I got’ for now! I don’t know about you, but I am STILL lovin’ on these essential oils for all of their oily goodness and gajillion benefits naturally! — ♫ Doin’ a what comes na-trul-ly!♫ — (<- A little ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ reference for you thespians out there! One of my favorite plays!)

Have a good rest of your Thursday, friends. We are headed for the weekend! Whoo Hoo!

Glow Serum

October 3, 2018October 5, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I have just been having so much fun experimenting with my essential oils! It has been an exciting learning period for me, knowing that I can never stop learning, especially since there are SO MANY POSSIBILITIES with the so many oils that Young Living has to offer! My husband is even on board, which makes it doubly fun and exciting!!

For a couple of weeks now I have been using a new face ‘glow’ serum as a daily moisturizer. It doesn’t necessarily ‘glow’ as a sparkly highlighter does, but it acts more like a moisturizer giving your skin a more fresh feel and ‘morning glow’, if you will. I have seen a difference in my skin, and I’ve even noticed a difference in how my makeup looks with this new skin, so to speak.

As a maturing woman who is about to reach the big 5-0, I have found that my skin has changed over the last year or so. My makeup does not wear like it has in years past, and it has just been a bit of a struggle finding the right moisturizer / primer / foundation / concealer combination that is a perfect fit for my changing skin … not to mention the fine lines that have been creeping in without my approval! Sometimes what I’ve put on my face has made me look even older than I am, because I hadn’t learned what works for my aging skin, and that is just not acceptable!

I have learned a couple of things about my skin thus far… 1) I cannot use a primer as I once did. I can use a primer on my eyes, but not on my face. Foundation does janky things on my face when I use a primer. 2) The type of moisturizer I use can do the same janky thing with my foundation, and it has been a process trying to find the right moisturizer for my aging skin without breaking the bank!

This glow serum has been a saving grace for me! I love how my face feels and looks, and I am very pleased with how my foundation looks after using the serum. So, let’s get on to the gritty details about this wonderful anti-aging face serum!!

Just three essential oils make up this serum: lavender (can you do ANYTHING without this little gem of an oil? I think not!), frankincense, and copaiba.

I’ll break them down for you and let you know the benefits of each:

LAVENDER

Lavender is great for the skin and hair, not to mention it is support for emotional balance as well. There are so many uses for lavender, and it is always the oil I run out of the quickest!

FRANKINCENSE

Just like Lavender, Frankincense is also great for the skin and hair, as well as for emotional balance, but it is also an anti-aging serum. (HALL-LAY-LOO!! – Gimme all dem anti-aging oilies!)

COPAIBA

I had never heard of Copaiba prior to my journey with Young Living, and this little oil has so many benefits! Along with the other two oils mentioned above, Copaiba is used for emotional balance and is an anti-aging serum, but this oil specifically, Copaiba Vitality, is part of the ‘vitality’ line, which means it can be ingested and used for respiratory system support as well as for muscles and bones.

There are different ratios one can use to make this little roller ball of oily goodness, but the following is the ratio I used in a 10ml roller bottle:

*10 drops lavender *10 drops frankincense *10 drops copaiba – fill the rest of the bottle with rosehip oil or jojoba oil. I chose rosehip oil.

You can find it on Amazon here.

If I had the time, I could fill my day up writing on everything I love about these essential oils! My next post will give you references on where you can buy all the oily accessories, such as the carrier oil, roller bottles, spray bottles, essential oil reference book, and other goodies! Yes….I’m doing things a bit backward, here, but I’m learning! Thank you for your patience with me as I learn about all the oily goodness and share it with you as I learn!

I am still a rookie at this, so tell me….do you use essential oils? If so, what are your favorite recipes and why?? I would LOVE to know, and I would love to learn from you!!

Exodus 35:38 – “They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.”

Blessings,

You Are Not Alone

September 22, 2018December 28, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

How is your life going lately?

Have you taken a look around you and noticed how the lives of others are going?

So many times I get so caught up in my own schedules, my own agenda, my own wants and desires that are, what I feel, in line with God’s desire for my life. But even those desires that seem to be in line with God can become idols if not balanced properly.

Over the past few weeks, I have taken a step back, removed myself, and have just taken a good look around. There are people all around me going through their own story of heartbreak, health setbacks, disappointment, discouragement, feelings of hopelessness and despair, and even unspoken needs… the list goes on and on.

Friends, I am a bit overwhelmed when I truly sit down and think about the many needs all around me.

It makes me reevaluate my priorities in prayer and snaps me out of my tunnel vision of self. I pray for my family every day, and I pray that my life represents my God in every way and in every aspect of this life here on earth, but I get so caught up in that one desire that I feel, at times, it becomes ‘the thing’ rather than having intentional awareness for the needs of others.

I’ve said it before, there is no greater gift we can give someone than the gift of prayer. We may say “It’s the least I can do” when actually, it’s the BEST we can do.

There is no feeling quite like interceding on another’s behalf. It is a feeling that cannot be explained. When you pray for others, your desires don’t seem so dire. Although my desires for myself and my family are not wrong in any way when in alignment with God’s word, I know those desires can become idols when they become the sole thing on which I focus.

Take the time today to just notice those around you. Turn on your awareness radar and just take note of how many people you know are hurting or are going through a thing. Then, just take a moment to lift them up in prayer.

If you are awakened in the middle of the night and a person’s face comes to mind, that’s your cue to say a prayer for that person. Even if you don’t know what to pray, just pray however the Holy Spirit leads.

There is power in prayer. And let me attest to the fact that if you keep a journal of your prayer requests, you will be blown away at how God works in your life and in the lives of those you pray for over the years. It is a great way to help nurture your faith and trust in God, and it will remind you that you are never alone.

If you ask for prayer, please know that I will be praying for you. You are not alone.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

My New Journey with Essential Oils

September 13, 2018November 14, 2019 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

.HOW I STARTED WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

So, I’ve actually been interested in essential oils for over a year now but just started doing a little bit of research on them back around March or so of this year. This is when I began focusing on cleaning up my food lifestyle and mainly started trying to eat those foods that God created and focusing especially on eliminating foods that trigger my tummy issues, as well as joint pain, that I’ve dealt with for so long. If you’ve been following me, then you know that around 2009 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that destroys the thyroid and ultimately causes hypothyroidism in approximately 90% of hypothyroid cases. Hashimoto’s causes so many issues, for which I am the poster child! So basically, I just wanted to start living a healthier more natural lifestyle as much as possible. I am taking baby steps, but already I have seen so many benefits from it. To read about how this all started, click here.

My 1st baby step was to clean up my foods. My 2nd baby step was to dive into essential oils! I work full time and have a very active family, so I may not ‘get there’ as quickly as I’d like, but I’m gonna get there! I have fallen in love with every aspect of this journey, and am surprised daily at the number of benefits essential oils offers! You can basically use essential oils for EVERYTHING!! –> cleaning your home, beauty products, your immune system, head tension, sleep support, for muscle & joint pain, to eliminate odors in your home, stress relief, support for your pets, and there is even a line of products for your baby! Young Living offers so much, and I am excited to be on their team!

WHY YOUNG LIVING

My research kept drawing me to Young Living essential oils. I decided to go with Young Living over other oil companies because all the research I did keep drawing me back to their Seed to Seal promise and their high-quality standards.

They have all their own farms and they personally distill their own oils. (You can actually visit the farms for yourself!) Their oils go beyond just being organic … even the soil in which they grow the plants has never been treated with pesticides or chemicals. I absolutely love this fact because I am trying to get away from everything that is toxic and unnatural as much as I possibly can. This means you’re using an oil with just one ingredient. If there is anything that I’ve learned recently, it’s that you cannot depend on a label’s claim to be organic or all natural…you have to be sure to look at the ingredients. The fewer ingredients there are on the label, the more likely to be organic.

With Young Living, there are no fillers, no additives and no chemicals whatsoever. Many oils that are more budget friendly (especially over the counter oils) are full of pesticides and toxins that begin from the initial start. There are companies out there that cut corners to save money so they can offer a cheaper oil, which is disheartening, especially to those who do not know what to look for. Many essential oils are sold more cheaply because companies cut corners, but not Young Living. Their products are purely organic with the seed to seal purity promise!

HOW TO GET STARTED

The most affordable way to get started with Young Living is by purchasing any starter kit and enrolling as a member. The benefit of being a member is that you get a 24% discount on products forever and always. I personally chose the Premium Starter Kit and I LOVE it.

It comes with 12 of the most commonly used oils–including Digize for tummy issues (one of my favorites!), your choice of diffuser (I chose Desert Mist but the Lantern is to die for!), and lots of samples including the Thieves household cleaner, which is amazing. This really is the best bang for your buck (it’s the only thing on the Young Living website that is HALF OFF!) and it saves you a ton of money compared to buying each thing individually. The Desert Mist diffuser is around $80 if purchased alone! So, you can see why ordering a starter kit can be so beneficial to your budget. You can also order as a retail customer, but you won’t get the 24% discounted pricing.

How to Order:

Click here and enroll as a MEMBER when you choose your Starter Kit. In order to be on my team make sure my sponsor ID number 16228899 appears in the “Enroller” and “Sponsor” fields. {And just to clarify, being a member does NOT mean you have to sell, it just gives you the discounted prices!} **(To see a video to help you in the enrollment process, click here.)
Decide if you’d like to enroll in the monthly rewards program known as Essential Rewards. (This is completely optional but is sooooo worth it!) This is an automatic shipment program that you can completely customize to include anything you want from Young Living delivered to your door each month. You can choose from the Thieves cleaning products, makeup, baby products, vitamins, oils and so much more. You definitely don’t have to enroll in the monthly program, but I highly recommend it because you can earn free oils, points back, reduced shipping cost, and other perks too. (It is through my monthly wellness box that I am able to receive FREE laundry detergent, dish washing powder and other household items!)
After you enroll I’ll send you a welcome email to fill you in on everything you need to get started with your oils!

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED NOW!

You don’t have to purchase the oils to get started as a member. You can also purchase ANY starter kit. For example, they offer the Thieves Starter Kit, as well as the Savvy Minerals Makeup Starter Kit!

THE COMMUNITY IS KEY!

Once you join Young Living, you’ll be able to join an amazing team of women (and even some men) and families that are all on this same journey. I joined with one of my favorite bloggers who I’ve loved & trusted for a long time now. After receiving my starter kit, I immediately joined the most amazing team one could every want to be involved with. I have dug deep into the team’s resources, watched tutorials, been involved with video calls, and kept my eye on social media posts, and I am learning sooooo much!!! There is ALWAYS something to learn about these oils, and as the team will tell you — there are endless possibilities! There is so much support from my team, and having the support of a great team makes ALL the difference in the world when it comes to getting started with oils.

Once you join my team as a member, you are welcomed into that tribe as well. You’ll get full access to our support groups that will teach you how to use your oils, free classes, business mentorship (if you ever choose to go that route!) and so much more. Our team is AMAZING!!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I am happy to help! Also be sure you’re following my Instagram wellness page @alifeblessed or my Facebook page Dana•A Life Blessed to follow along with me on this journey! I look forward to the journey together with YOU!

Blessings,

Fabulous Finds!

September 5, 2018September 6, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Oh my goodness…Amazon never ceases to amaze me! I just love the convenience of their 2-day shipping, and the fact that you can find so many things you are looking for at such an affordable price is also huge plus!

Today’s finds prove to be some FABULOUS bargains! I found some things that are good for helping transition you from summer to fall. (It is FINALLY beginning to feel like fall around here, and I’m so ready!!)

Todaies Women’s Hoodie Blouse – This hoodie is perfect for fall, and it comes in navy and red, and it is $5.49!! (What-What??!!) The sizes also range from small to 3x, so this is a fabulous find! I’m loving the pocket in the front!

Duseedik Ladies Zipper Long Sleeve Blouse Loose Summer Vest Shirt – Y’all … $2.85!!! It comes in black, blue and red, in sizes Small – XLarge. I love how it hides the mommy pooch as well as the junk in the trunk!

Todaies Casual Long Sleeve Button Loose Plaid Blouse – Another Todaies goody … for $6.96, also good for fall. Look at the colors! This one also comes in red plaid ranging from sizes Small-XLarge.

Who DOESN’T need this Car Trunk Organizer?? At $16.99, it’s a great way to keep your groceries and what-nots from sliding all around in the back of your vehicle. Great for hauling tail-gate supplies, too!

Todaies Women Lace Floral Open Casual Loose Kimono Cardigan – This little beauty also comes in black and in a wide variety of sizes – from Small to 3x – for just $6.89. I love the feminine look of the lace as well as the loose fit. It just looks like it’s ready to capture that fall breeze!

Todaies Womens Long Sleeve Round Neck T-Shirts – This little comfy, cozy long sleeve T-shirt comes in 4 different colors (soft shades) ranging from Small – 2X for $6.29. Can’t you just imagine wearing this one with leggings & fuzzy socks, having a blanket wrapped around you as you sip on a cup of coffee watching a football game or binge-watching your favorite Netflix series?

Microfiber Makeup Remover Facial Cloths – Now, I cannot attest for these particular facial cloths, but I can attest to the fact that if you aren’t using microfiber cloths to remove your makeup, you don’t know what you’ve been missing! These things work so stinkin’ good, they just grab that makeup right off your face leaving your face feeling squeaky clean! I promise…it’s like you can almost hear the ‘squeak’ whenever you are washing your face with them! — I wear waterproof mascara, so what I do before washing my face is to use the Garnier Micellar Water to remove the mascara and then I let the microfiber cloth use its magic to do the rest! This happens to be one of my most favorite finds ever! Well…. 2 of my most favorite finds!

I talked about these Swisspers Exfoliating Rounds in one of my other posts. I use them for so many things, and removing my mascara is just one!

Well…I’m gonna leave it at that for now, friends. Hope you are able to get in on the fabulous finds for today that won’t break the bank!

Blessings to you today and every day,

Big Hands

August 31, 2018September 1, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

When both my boys were born, their Dad and I dedicated them to the Lord, knowing that God gave them to us to raise for His glory. The older they’ve become, the more I’ve had to remind myself that I must release them into God’s care. That is hard for an involved parent!! But, watching them grow into the young men they have become has been so very rewarding and I thank God for keeping His hand on them and on our family.

We are still trying to raise them in the Lord and help guide them where we can, even at (soon to be) 22 & 20 years old. No matter how old a child is… a parent never quits parenting. It’s not something you can just give up – it’s a part of you and, even though you watch them grow a year older and develop into very capable independent children, you will always want the best for them.

There are still some growing pains ahead, I’m sure, but in good times and in bad, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. What a comfort to know that you can put your trust in a God who has it all figured out when there are things over which you have no control.

A dear man who is with Jesus now, when asked how he was doing on that fine day, once said to me: “I’m great! I take care of those things I can, and I give God the rest!”

Great words of wisdom by which to live.

Great words of wisdom by which to live, not only when raising your children, but in every facet of your life.

What are some things you need to let God take off your shoulders to help lighten your load? Give it to God, put your trust in Him today, and wait for Him to work it out for His glory.

His plans are always better than anything we could ever ask or imagine, and His hands are bigger than ours, so He can handle so much more! Further more, His hands are reaching out welcoming us to lean on Him and put our complete trust in Him.

“In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my Trust;..” (Psalm 56:4a).

♫ When we walk with the Lord ♫
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4
But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

♫

Amazon Favs!

August 31, 2018August 31, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Just a little easy-going post here today to start your Labor Day weekend off on a fun note! I wanted to share a few of my favorite budget-friendly beauty products that I have fallen in love with because of their 1) cost and 2) quality!

A FEW of my AMAZON FAVS!!

Physicians Formula Butter Blushes:

Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Blush, Natural Glow, 0.26 Ounce — Physicians Formula Butter Blush

I have these in 3 different colors: Rosy Pink, Vintage Rouge (which is a peachy/coral color), and Natural Glow (peachy/fleshy/tan tint). These give a slight glow to the cheeks giving you a fresh look without too much pigment. The powder is as ‘smooth as buttah’. I guess that’s why they are called Butter Blushes (duh)!

Loreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara

Y’all….this is a dupe for the Too Faced mascara that everyone is just loopy about, and it bears the name I’m not comfortable saying. You probably know which one I’m referring to, so we’ll just call it Too Faced BTS mascara. I have used the BTS mascara before, but I’ll be honest…it is pricey!! This Loreal mascara performs just the same – if not better – than BTS. I actually prefer this mascara; it doesn’t clump like the BTS, the quality is amazing (no flaking), and the price is a no-brainer! — And guess what? ↓ ↓ ↓

L'Oreal Paris Cosmetics Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base, Millennial Pink, 0.27 Fluid Ounce

THERE IS A PRIMER!! Whoo Hoo! I absolutely LOVE it! I’ve tried my share of lash primers with my pick of favorites, and this one tops the list! The only drawback is that it clumps a little, as in a lot of product is on the wand, but it’s easy to smooth out on the lashes. This is a primer that lengthens your lashes like nobody’s business!! Paired with the mascara….it is mahvelous, dahling!

NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss

There seems to be a theme going on here, huh? (Bu NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Butter Gloss, Creme Brulee, 0.27 Ounce t everything’s better with butter!) This lip gloss is insanely budget friendly and insanely good! I have the colors Creme Bruleè and Tiramisu, and they are with me at all times! They give just enough pigment to give you a little sheen of color without the heaviness of a lipstick. And…..*drum roll*…..They are 1/2 off on Amazon for Prime members as we speak! Go getchu summa dem!!

The last one I’m going to share with you today is the Thayers Witch Hazel Face Toners.

Thayers Witch Hazel Cucumber Face Toner. 12 Fluid Ounce Alcohol-Free Facial Mist with Aloe Vera Formula. Skin Care Essentials I have the cucumber toner that I use in the morning for a fresh clean ‘getcha mornin’ goin” scent. I use the lavender at night before I go to bed as lavender is a calming ‘get yo tail in bed’ scent.

I use the Swisspers Premium Exfoliating Rounds to apply both.

Well…there ya have it! Just a few of my very affordable favorites!! I’ve linked these items for you to go directly to Amazon for easy access. Who knows… you might find a ton of other Labor Day sales!

Happy shopping, and Happy Labor Day weekend!!

Be safe. Be good. Be the ‘you’ God called you to be.

Enjoy today, for “all we have is now.”

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.” Matthew 6:24

Smooth(ie) Operator

August 29, 2018August 29, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

After deciding to go dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free, the first huge item I gave up was milk. Well…actually, the first item I knocked to the curb was refined sugar. Sugar is bad altogether. It feeds infection and lots of other stuff, but that’s another post altogether. But to give up milk… that was extremely hard for me. I love milk so much…always have…and I probably always will. But more than I love milk, I love the way I feel when I stay away from milk and dairy products.

The next big item I gave up was bread…any and all kinds of bread (except homemade biscuits, for a minute). We’d gotten to where we’d have breakfast for supper almost every week, and we love homemade biscuits! All good things must come to an end, I guess. I’ve tried – one time – to make biscuits out of coconut flour, and the texture and taste both were like a block of sand. No lie. I shall try again, but next time I’ll use almond flour!

The next big change I made was incorporating a green smoothie into my daily diet. The recipe I follow comes from Dr. Izabella Wentz, author of Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause, and The Hashimoto’s Protocol, among others. These two books are extremely full of so much information. I have not finished either one of them, and I keep going back over those chapters I’ve finished. I am really so very thankful to have stumbled upon these gold mines of resources.

The base ingredients of this smoothie are as follows:

super greens (spinach, kale, chard)
basil
carrots
celery
cucumber
coconut milk
avocado (for a creamier consistency)
sea salt (to help the adrenals)
Pea Proten
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:
- blueberries to sweeten it a bit (I use frozen)
- cilantro
- turmeric
- ginger

The recipe calls for the Rootcology pea protein, the star ingredient, but I have not yet added the protein, for it isn’t in the budget at the moment. But for those with Hashimoto’s, this particular pea protein, as well as the Al Paleo Beef protein, are key because they both created just for the purpose of helping those with food sensitivities (such as dairy, gluten and soy) be able to get the protein they need without the adverse affects that other protein powders can have on the body. Other protein powders use fillers that have dairy, soy or whey, and that is a no-no for those with Hashimoto’s. I have a lack of energy most days, and I’m sure it has everything to do my not getting the amount of protein I need in order to fuel my engine. I’m anxious to see how the protein affects my energy levels once I’m able to incorporate it into my budget. Click here to read about these particular protein powders, as well as other supplements made available for different needs and deficiencies.

This smoothie is definitely a green smoothie, but be warned: once you add blueberries, it turns brown. The more blueberries you add, the more brown it becomes. It can end up looking like baby poo! – Very aesthetically pleasing to the eyes! ha I’ve never had a problem drinking this smoothie; it tastes really good, and I actually look forward to drinking it every day. The fact that I don’t have any adverse reactions from it is always a plus! It truly does help your gut operate so much better, and I am still amazed at the difference!

Click here to find the recipe for the green smoothie on Dr. Izabella Wentz’s website at thyroidpharmacist.com. She suggests optional boosts to include in your smoothie, as well as some taste hacks should you not like the creamier consistency of the smoothie, or should you want it to be a bit sweeter. She gives so much more helpful information that it truly would be beneficial to hop on over and check out her website.

What have you recently given up for better health, and what other food have you put in it’s place? I’d love to know!

“This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” ~C.S. Lewis~

It’s Not Easy Being Clean

August 26, 2018December 28, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 2 Comments

Trying to change to a diet that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, caffeine-free, and refined sugar-free is not easy! I thought I was gonna die when I first started changing my diet … no more milk (which I would drink tons of every day, not to mention the daily bowls of cereal I looked forward to!), no more cheese (which I cooked with almost every meal), and no more breads (which I love way more than sweets)! As I’ve stated before, I felt like the only thing allowed was air & water!

But actually, the feeling of deprivation didn’t last too long, especially when I started feeling (not seeing, but ‘feeling’) how my body reacted to eliminating those triggers from my life. I actually felt as if I started living again because I began to feel better almost immediately.

This change has been difficult, but it has actually been rewarding. It is exciting and fun learning what works for me and what doesn’t. It is amazing to see how much a good food works ‘for’ me, and how much a bad food works against me (it’s almost immediate). There are days where I’ll not feel so great and have to back track and figure out what I’ve eaten that has caused some ill effects on my body. Today was one of those days. I’m a rookie at trying to heal my Hashimoto’s, so I’m still a major work in progress trying to figure it all out. But lucky you! ☺ – You guys are going to see me work my way through this journey until I see, hopefully, optimal health!

I haven’t even tried to master being caffeine-free yet, for I so love my cup of Java with Jesus in the mornings!! As I stated earlier, today was one of those days where I’ve had to back track, and I think I’ve determined that I’m still going to be able to ‘Java with Jesus’, but it’s going to have to be unleaded from now on. (boo hoo hoo!) I’m hoping that I will be able to eventually incorporate caffeine back into my diet, but … we shall see.

This is what a typical gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, clean meal looks like for me at dinner time. Grilled chicken (seasoned w/ sea salt, garlic & onion powder), baked sweet potato with coconut oil and sunflower seeds, sliced avocado, oven roasted brussels sprouts (w/ olive oil, garlic & onion powder), and a salad consisting of power greens (spinach, kale, chard & mizuna) with cucumbers, topped w/olive oil & vinegar for the dressing. I can’t have tomatoes, which makes me extremely sad, because they are considered a nightshade (along with eggplant and peppers), and nightshades have a negative effect on the health of the gut. But as you can see, I get plenty to eat. I get hungry during the day, but that is only because I’m still trying to figure out the ‘easier’ foods I can eat at work that will still give me the protein and the nutrients my body needs. I don’t want to have to warm up a whole meal and try to eat that at my desk, so it’s going to be trial and error for a while until I figure it out.

I only drink water (with lemon) with meals now. There were times I’d phase in and out of making sweet tea, thinking I was doing my family a favor by decreasing the sugar from 2 cups to 1 1/2 cups. If no tea, then I’d almost always drink a cold glass of milk … I so miss this! However, the ill effects and the caloric intake is just not worth wasting on a beverage, and I love water, so it’s no big deal for me. At this point, I actually prefer water as my beverage of choice. As a matter of fact, I’m trying to intake at least 1 gallon of water a day. Some days I do, some days I don’t; and my body feels the difference.

There is so much to consider when making a lifestyle change as big as this, and what works for me may not be what works for you. You may not have to eliminate from your diet as much as I have. This, so far, has just been what is working at themoment for my Hashimoto’s (or as Todd calls it, my ‘Kung Fu-itis’ ha!). But once again, I just started not too long ago, and I’ve got a long way to go, so I’m a sponge trying to soak up whatever knowledge and wisdom I can for the road ahead.

Later on this week, I’ll give you the deets on one thing in particular that has made its way as a staple in my daily menu.

Keep it real – keep it simple – and enjoy your daily blessings!

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not. ~Mark Twain

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ~1 Cor. 10:31

Put On A Happy Face

August 24, 2018December 28, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 4 Comments

I don’t like being on this side of the camera. I am usually the one taking the pics – so much so, that I’ve told my family that they wouldn’t be able to put a slideshow together for my funeral should I die today! lol

But today…this is a face of someone who knows for certain that the hard work of a new wellness journey is paying off.

What started almost 6 months ago as a journey to simply feel better became a quest to be the healthiest me I can be. It was not a quest to lose weight, although I’m well aware of the fact that much weight needed to be shed (and still does). I didn’t, however, expect this new lifestyle to have as big of an impact on my weight as it has over these last few months.

Two events in my life were the springboard into catapulting me into this new quest for better health: 1) the fact that I felt miserable almost every day of my life and ended up with my missing a day of work, simply for stomach issues, and 2) a health screening for my life insurance renewal. These two events happened almost simultaneously, and it was then that I knew I had to take charge of my health. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that can wreak havoc on your body causing all sorts of problems, and I darn near had about every one of them possible. I’m a poster child for HT! lol.

6 months later, I am 25 lbs lighter, and I feel so much better than I have felt in a long time. I’ve been seeing the progress but not truly believing that my scales were ‘right’. I excused it by telling myself that “digital scales aren’t exactly true”, plus the scales “might be getting old and we might need to buy another one”, etc. etc.

But today, another health screening took place, and the results showed that my scales were actually right. For some reason, it was at today’s screening that made it feel official to me.

Self-doubt gets in the way many times. If the writing is on the wall…read it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t second-guess it. Continue on your journey. It may be hard, but every step, no matter how tiny, is still a step forward.

There will be good days, and days you mess up, but the ‘day’ doesn’t define you. I’m an example of both the good and the bad. I’m under construction every day. But today, I’m 25 lbs lighter and 1 RX less than I was 6 months ago. And I’m gonna let myself be happy about it.

Encourage Yourself

August 23, 2018August 23, 2018 by a life blessed ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Weary?

Feel overtaken or overwhelmed? Discouraged?

Don’t know where to go from here?

There is nothing that gives me more encouragement than reading the comforting words of Scripture. This is usually the very first place I turn to when I feel any kind of way, but especially when I feel my situation, my world or my emotions are starting to spin out of control or when I don’t know my next step.

One of the many beauties of the Word is that you can go back to it time and time again …and again and again … and It never changes. What held true back then still holds true today.

People and situations change, but the promises of God remain true and always will. People and changing situations may disappoint, but standing on the promises of Christ my King is what keeps me grounded.

So, my friend, when you are feeling a certain type of way, whatever it may be, encourage yourself in the Lord.

“And David was greatly distressed… but David encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6).

DANA HOLDEN

Year: 2018