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!! 

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!!! 

Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast....NO WAIT!!!!!!!!

So, today started out like any other ordinary day...  Even though I stayed up way past the time that even a nocturnal creature would, much less a human. So, this morning my eyes were droopy and and my head was loopy. But, life must go on....right?!? 

Anyway, as our ordinary morning began, cereal was out of the question since we were down to our last gallon of milk and grocery day is not till tomorrow ~ horror of all horrors!  So, loving mommy that I am, I decided I would make cinnamon roll biscuits.  Can we all say YUM? So, as I am deep in floured dough and sugar and cinnamon, I hear a small voice   s c r e a m i n g   from outside.  Now, if you're a mom (or a dad), you know your heart just drops from your chest when you hear one of your children screaming.  BUT, what could I do...remember, I'm up to my elbows in dough and flour. AND, even more importantly, I couldn't tell exactly WHAT was being screamed.  SO...I continue with my task.  LOL!!  However, our screaming child would not be silenced. He knew something that just had to be told....and heard!!!!

WHAT was that something that he knew and that he was gushing with such enthusiasm to tell us..???????

Well, a picture is worth a thousand words.............

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yep...we have a new baby on the farm.  Our first chick born "el natural".  LOL!! 

We were all so excited!!!!  And, yes, I guess we were ALL a little proud!!!!!    Here's one more...

So, due to our carnivorous cats...  We put momma, chick and her last egg in a cage to keep inside.  Here she is all settled in but let me tell you she was mad as a hornet when we started messing with her and her sweet chick.   Hehehe!

I think we are in love...  

We did, however, finally get to eat some yummy cinnamon roll biscuits!

BTW, today is Link-Up Wednesday at Women Living Well Ministries.  Courtney has a wonderful, uplifting blog.  Be sure and check it out!

http://womenlivingwell.org/category/women-living-well-wednesdays/