Essential Oils have changed our life!!!!!!!!!!

We have always tried to stay away from doctors, whether that be skipping well-baby checks, finding ways to stay healthy or finding alternative treatments for illness.  We have had success at staying well to a degree, but when we finally succumb to illness, we would end up at the doctor more times than not.  Many times we would leave the doctor's office with several prescriptions...antibiotics, cough suppressant, etc.  And, as we all know, these have horrible side effects.  So...do I want to give these to my family?   Of course not!!!

Well, this is where I was desperate to find an alternative.  I searched and searched.  I finally found it.  And, it has certainly made a difference in my life, my immediate family, and my extended families lives!!!!    Who could ask for more?

We have been so very, very blessed by finding Young Living essential oils.  For over a year and a half, we have not been to the doctor.  We had no need because 1) we are staying healthy most of the time and 2)if we do get sick, I have remedies right here in my home.  

There have been many, many instances that Young Living essential oils have come to our rescue.  In the coming days, I will be adding posts on how we are using these essentials oils in our life and how they have replaced all the over-the-counter (OTC) meds/prescription medicines.

OTC meds and prescription medications are, quite simply, poison to our bodies.  When we take one, our bodies have difficulty knowing what to do with them.  Have you noticed how many healthy people are having problems with the "safe" solutions like Tylenol lately?  Over and over I hear about people (normally young, healthy people) that are having problems with their liver because of OTC meds.  It is so important for us to be aware of what we are taking.    OTC meds/prescription medications are synthetic, man-made substances that are not good for our bodies. Yes, they can help but what are the extra consequences?  They all have horrible side effects that you may not even realize are occurring. 

Essential oils are God's gift to us...to help us stay healthy and to take care of those instances when we need immediate help with an illness or first aid.  When we inhale or ingest Young Living essential oils, our bodies know exactly what it is and then uses how it needs it. And, our bodies can use a single oil in multiple ways. For example, we might take Lemon essential oil in a cup of warm water with honey because we have a sore throat. It will definitely sooth our throat but it will also balance our Ph at the same time. Or, we might use Lavender b/c we have a burn but it will relieve stress at the same time. These are just two very simple examples of how our bodies might use an essential oil.  Amazing, right?!?    It does all this because this is what God intended.  He is so very good to us!!! 

If you are looking for alternatives to medicines, I'd love to help you learn more about essential oils.  They are good for you!! 

Birthday Boy...our "baby" turns 4 years old!!

Wow!!!  Time flies when your having fun.  Well, that's the way the old saying goes anyway!   Our "baby" is now 4 years old.  I can't believe it.  I praise Yahweh for the way Benjamin is growing and maturing, but sometimes (as a mom and especially with him being our youngest), I just wish time wouldn't move so swiftly!!! 


I can't believe it's been 4 years since we went flying to the birthing center...

And, here is our sweet "baby" boy on his 4th birthday...

Gardening in 2012...Tomatoes!

Was gardening good for us in 2012?  No, not really.  Well, now if you ask me about tomatoes...  Ok, yes!  We had a bumper crop of tomatoes!  



Celebrity Tomatoes

 We decided to only grow Celebrity and Roma tomatoes this year.  Yes, I know.   Celebrity is not organic.  It is a hybrid.  We grew lots of different kinds of tomatoes last year.  We wanted to test them, what grew great in our area, how they tasted, etc.  The only really good producer for us was the Celebrity.  And, they tasted great too!  So, that is all we grew this year. 

Here are the rows of tomato plants just a few days after planting.

And boy, oh boy, did we have a bumper crop!!  We would have had even more if we had of been diligent with staking the plants.  We were late with our staking so we lost probably as many as we picked.

One of only 4 wagon loads of tomatoes! Pretty, huh?

Oh, did you know that goats LOVE (no, really...I mean LOVE) tomatoes?  One of our LaMancha goats, Anaheim, got to this wagon load.  There were lots more piled high but, well, like I said, Anaheim was hungry!  Oh, and did you also know that goats are messy eaters?!? Well, now you do.   Don't invite one for dinner unless you are prepared!

Anyway, back to tomatoes...  Around our farm, gardening (and all that goes with it) is a family affair.   We all work together doing all the work.  We think that is completely fair since we all reap the benefits.    But, you know what??  Gardening work can be fun!!  And, it takes a lot less time for 6 people to hoe the garden than it does just one.  

Here are some pictures of our canning adventure...



Houston is a pro!

Delanie is such a hard worker!

Mason was very helpful too! 

We found that it was so easy to peel tomatoes after putting them in a hot water bath.  That means putting them in boiling water for just 30 seconds or so.  Then, we put into cold water for a few minutes.  This makes the peeling basically just fall off of them! 

Tomatoes in Hot Water Bath

See?  No peeling needed!

Here we are in the thick of it...hot water bath, cold water bath, peeling/coring, cooking down the tomatoes a little, actual canning...makes for a messy and long day!

Scott isn't really mad...he really enjoys canning tomatoes! LOL!

And, drum roll please......

SOME of the final product!!  Beautiful, huh?

I certainly can't say we're the best canners in the world, but we get the job done!!  And, we have a little fun doing it too!!  

We learn more and more every year we garden.  One of the most important things is to "stay ahead of the game".   We have difficulty keeping ahead of the weeding, etc.  I hope that we will do better this year.  I am so excited that it's nearly time to begin planting here in East Texas.  We need to have onions and potatoes in the ground by the 15th of February.  Oh boy, I better get busy...tilling!!! 

2013...?? Really?!? But, what happened to 2012?

Wow!! I can't believe we are already well into 2013.  Where does the time go??   Our 2012 was a very, very busy year.  I wish now (hind sight is 20/20, right?) that I had kept up with this blog better.  Facebook just isn't good enough for those times when we want to remember what was going on during the year...and the emotions that went along with the memories.  Memories are God's blessings to us of times past.  And, I want to be able to immerse myself in every single blessing that He bestowed!!!  Remember everything?  No way!  Do you think my memory is that good?!?   LOL! But, I sure can remember the highlights.  How about a trip back in time...

2012 in pictures...Welcome to our crazy life!

One of our Bantam's hatched some chicks...this one became our pet.  And, someone around here named him Eagle.

Lanie and Eagle...oh, watch out for the bird poop!

Lots of fun playing with "OLD" toys!



Lanie studied hard...  Was this picture staged????  LOL!

Mason hard at work too?!?



Princess...the newest equestrian addition to our farm!!  Lanie claimed her immediately!

 

I'll have to add a current picture of her.  She has filled out beautifully!!













AND then....on Feb. 23rd, the smallest goat we've ever seen was born on our farm. Here is Bailey, moments after he was born.



And, here he is over a month later...still tiny! 

To say that we fell in love with him is the understatement of the world.  We had to bottle feed him since he was only about 1/4 the size of his brother. He lived in our house, on a heating pad, for months!  Oh Bailey...you stole all our hearts!!!!      

Spring time, oh Spring time...came to the farm!

Our beautiful "new" pond!!

Along with....

Scott's idea of "fun"...it made a GREAT science experiment for the kids! 



....and a birthday! 

Lanie's 9th Birthday!  Where did the time go??

She liked her cake..."holes and all"!

 

And finally...more GOATS!!!!!!!

 

 

Anaheim - our first milker!

And Kojak - who will be our herd sire!

Well, how about that for the early months of 2012??   I think that's a pretty good start to our year (and probably the busiest part too)!    We are so blessed in this crazy and busy life that God has lead us too.  There are many more pictures...many more memories.  But, those will have to wait for another day!