A few weeks ago I decided to give up depression for Lent. I’ve done pretty well, although some days are tougher than others. Like today. As you can see by the picture above, my life can get a little hectic, especially with all of the kids at home. I love my big family, but some days can really test a mama’s sanity!

Some of the biggest symptoms that I have to deal with are migraines, sleeping way to many hours or sleeping not enough hours. I’m not sure which one of those is worse on my family. What I can share is how I have dealt with some of these things over the past few weeks, and some for months.

My biggest ally is my tub! My tub is my biggest escape from stress. Add some aromatherapy and it can be bliss! One of my favorite essential oils is Joy. Can you imagine just a couple drops from a little brown bottle making all the difference in your day? Well this one really makes a huge difference in me when I’m having signs of depression. I wear this one as purfume on most days, but on those extra hard days I do something special.

What you will need:

• 5 drops Joy Essential Oil Blend
• 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
• 1/4 Cup Unscented Body Wash

Take these 3 ingredients and whip them with your mixer until they become a nice, thick bath foam. Add a couple table spoons to your bath and relax! Store in a glass container.

Some of the other oils that I have been using are Stress Away Roll-on, Peace and Calming, and En-R-Gee.

When I’m having one of “those moments” where I really just want to scream, I grab my Stress Away Roll-On and roll in across my wrists. I like to smell this one because its a warm vanilla scent. It almost instantly calms whatever is going on in my head. I can’t speak highly enough about this oil blend! I want to sniff it all day! And sometimes I just uncap it and take a nice whiff. Its so luxurious!

Peace and Calming is an oil blend that we have been using to calm my daughter from her nightmares and get her back to sleep in the middle of the night. I take a drop and rub it into her feet and on her wrists. She likes to keep her wrists near her nose so that she can inhale the scent, which calms her until she can fall asleep. Normally this only takes a few minutes. So mama keeps this one on her bed side table for the same exact thing. I use this oil almost every night on myself to help me sleep. Or when I wake up in the middle of the night and cant’ seem to calm my brain from talking to itself.

Now on those nights that I’ve been up reading the Hunger Games Trilogy or just can’t seem to get enough sleep, I use En-R-Gee. You know that mama’s work is never done, so I certainly need a pick me up. I can’t say that this oil smells amazing to me, because it doesn’t. Not to start with anyways. It takes a few minutes, then I start searching for that yummy scent. A lot of oil blends are like that, kind of like perfume they change with your body chemistry. Anyways, on to the story. When I use this oil blend, I kinda look back at my day and see all of the extra things that I’ve done without noticing that I had that much energy to do them. I don’t feel like I’ve drank one of those energy drinks that everyone is talking about, or even a cup of coffee. I just have natural energy that helps me get through the day. I just have to make sure that I don’t use this too late in the day, or I will be reading until 4am again!

I can’t say enough about these oils and combating my depression. It has helped tremendously. The hardest thing for me is to remember to pick them up and use them. I keep these and a few more sitting in places that I know I will use them most often. I keep En-R-Gee on my desk, and Peace and Calming beside my bed. I think that is what’s essential to using them when you need them most, keep them handy. It’s always the simple things, right?

You can find all of these oils on the Depression Relief Page.

The only thing that remains constant is change. Or at least that’s what I’ve always been told. Here in Alabama, spring is in the air. I can almost smell the chocolate Easter candy! (oops did you give up chocolate for Lent?! sorry!) The kids are wanting to stay outside to plan a garden in the afternoons, or play baseball, or even just to hang out. I can’t blame them with the warm breezy days.

For me the world is covered in pollen! So I stay inside a lot, but its hard to resist being out in this great sunshine we are having, or sitting out on the back porch with one of the spring showers we get a lot of days. Don’t you love spring showers?!

Anyways, with Spring upon us here I’ve gotten to thinking about doing a lot of changing. Growing. I gave up stress for Lent. You know what, I didn’t think I could do it. Especially with one kid getting hurt at school and requiring emergency dentist and hospital trips. That was a pretty stressful day, but you know I stayed in control and tried to laugh at the folly of it all. I think that I did pretty well.

Growing. We are wanting to move our garden this year. The kids are preparing a tomato bed. Using composted hay and cow manure must be quite fun for the 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son. They’d rather play with that in the afternoons than watch TV! Amazing huh?! As for me, I’d really like to try to do a raised bed this year. But we are just in the planning stages right now.  I’m trying to find some old lumber so that I don’t put a lot of money into it, because if we like it I can add to it next year right?

Moving. For about a year I have really tried to move. As a family we all fought a move out of state, but for me I thought it would be best. I didn’t want to change. I really didn’t want to. I even tried to start a new blog. It just doesn’t work. So I’m in the process of changing this blog to something that I love and moving the new content from the newer blog here. Changes are something that I don’t like. Especially when I haven’t thought everything through. And believe me I’ve been thinking about this for 6 months. Just coming back to where I began. Well not really…I began several blogs, but this is home. So you will start to see a lot of changes here.

Learning. I have so many things that I’m learning about right now. I’m learning and teaching about essential oils. I can’t tell you how much I love these oils! I’m learning about how to use oils for more than just making the house smell good when I clean, which is all I really knew they were good for.

Teaching. Teaching my family and friends and just about anyone who will listen (or read) about how to use oils for things like migraines, allergies, skin conditions, ear infections, pink eye, etc…Really I could go on and on. I promise I will be teaching you these things if you are willing to listen er..read. In fact, I’m finishing up an e-book on how to use essential oils for migraines. Its been a life changer for not only myself but for my whole family.

Is it time for changes in your life? Do you feel the start of spring and think that its time to turn over a new leaf? I can’t wait to hear what changes you are making!

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photo credit: Golden_ie

I’ve been thinking about Lent for a few weeks now, and I’m trying to come up with a plan. A plan to “fast” in remembrance of my Lord.

In the past I’ve given up Coke, and the absolute hardest thing I’ve ever given up was chocolate! It was so hard, because I was addicted. I don’t say that lightly either.

This year Lent means something more for me. This year I plan to give up Depression. Yeah, I know! You can’t just turn off Depression.

The source of Depression is stress. When you remove stress, depression will leave, right? Okay, work with me here.

So one of my stressors is money. Money is one of those things we all stress out about. So my husband and I are working on this together. We are working with Mvelopes.com for a budget to cut out the fat! I’m also working from home to increase our income. Its funny how you have to spend money to make money, but I’m working on a way to fund that too!

Counting my Joy daily.

If you haven’t read this book “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are“, then I highly recommend that you get it NOW! lol! I have never felt so ungrateful for everything in my life. But I’m making a vow to God that I am going to find Joy in my every day life.  Finding Joy every day of our lives is so important. If we can’t look at our children’s smiles and thank God for them, or even for the dirty dishes…then we are going to reap the stress and depression that comes with not being grateful to God who gives us everything.

So you have never celebrated Lent?

One of the things that Lent does, is brings you much closer to Him. Every time you start to crave a piece of chocolate, say a prayer. Ask for strength to resist the temptation. Thank Him for giving you strength. When you pray 10 times the first day over a piece of chocolate, guess what happens? You get closer to God! It’s really that simple.

On day 15 when you are invited to a party where they have the most amazing brownies, what do you do? You pray for strength! You politely say no thanks to the hostess and grab a bottle of water instead. Then guess what? You get a little stronger in your faith that God can get you through this season!

Wait, we forgot about Easter parties! Think of all the chocolate that you may buy for your kids! Oh wow! I remember getting out bags of my favorite chocolate candy that night. I wanted a piece, but I knew that I could wait. After weeks of nothing chocolate passing my lips, I prayed. It was so easy, because God and me…we got close! Closer than I was months before! Yep, chocolate brought us together! ha! I would have never thought that.

On Easter morning I did eat a piece of chocolate, and I didn’t even enjoy it. I cheered with God! I broke through my chains of bondage and stepped out to grow my faith and my relationship in Him!

“You can do all things through Christ”

Join me in this time of Lent this year starting on Ash Wednesday February 22 and ending on Easter Sunday April 7th. I want to celebrate with you on Easter as we realize that we have broken those chains of bondage, are you with me?

photo credit: LadyDragonflyCC – TY for 300,000 Views!!!!

Valentines is upon us, and this year as it is most years for me it is very bittersweet. My father’s 82nd birthday would have been a few days ago. Many different holidays are bittersweet for me because of my father and so many struggles that I’ve had over the years.

For many years I spent Valentines day alone, or with a girl friend. The pain that comes with this day of love is immense for those that don’t have a special someone to spend the day with, or maybe that that special person doesn’t see you in the same light, or even they are away on business or even at war. Oh boy, I just realized that I’ve experienced all of these and probably more over the years.

What I think a lot of people fail to remember is that Valentines is about love. No one said that Valentines was about love between a man and woman, right? Lust is NOT love.

My oldest son has found love. But its a very young love. It reminds me so much of how his father and I were as teenagers. Do I believe that this love with last? I believe it has great potential to last a lifetime if they treat this love as they should in the eyes of God. Mary and Joseph made it right? Yes, I may be a hopeless romantic, but I know that true love exists.

When I give my heart I give it all. Do you? Do you hold back your love? Are you afraid of being hurt? I can not tell you how heartbroken I’ve been in the past, but God healed my heart and sent me an amazing man. Although this holiday is very bittersweet for me, I have found a very happy life that is full of love. I’m surrounded by a large family that loves each other, this is more than I could have ever asked for from anyone!

I want you to take the day to remember all of your loved ones. Say a prayer for each of them, asking God for his blessings in each of their lives. Thank God for the love that he has brought into your life with family and friends. Thank God for those struggles that he has brought you through to show you what love really is.

photo credit: bortescristian

If 6 years as a single mom of 3 taught me anything, it was that I can do anything if I set my mind to it. Better yet, “I can do anything through Christ who Strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13

It was after 10PM tonight before the tech was finished replacing parts to our (internet) satellite. We’ve been tethering our phones to our computers for internet service for months now. That brought on a lot of obstacles that we needed to overcome. The price was right, compared to the monthly service of the satellite service and repairs that we needed. Tonight I’m elated to have real internet!

We also have a water heater that won’t stay lit. Hot water is something that we take for granted. But every time we stop to thank God for this luxury, the thing works. It’s like a miracle! We decided a few days ago to replace our propane gas water heater with electric when we have the money. For now we are going to heat water on our stove if the pilot light won’t stay lit, go to a relatives for showers, shower at work (my husband) or just go without. Sometimes, you do what you have to do, right?

We have one obstacle after another in life. Since our marriage we seem to have had more than our fair share, but everything always works itself out.

Today, maybe you’re reading this and thinking to yourself that your bank account is low, or maybe you are being tested in a different way. What are you going to do to get past this bump in the road? For some things I’ve found that prayer works better than anything, but sometimes the answer to prayer is God wanting you to get creative. Do you need to find a part time job? Do you need to step away from a situation, or even a person that’s causing great pain? Maybe stress has you so overwhelmed that you have a laundry list of things that are going on in your life. Get creative with your answer, and make it work!

If you believe in yourself, that’s 2 that believe in you. Even if you don’t believe in yourself, you always have God looking down at you and believing that YOU are worth Christ dying on the cross. So ask for help. Ask God, your family and friends, whomever you think that may can help you come up with an answer. Now don’t go looking for a handout! That’s not what I’m saying. Sometimes asking for help can bring you to a new job, or just new advice that you need to hear.

Take that first step and get yourself out of that rut and over that obstacle to a better day, week or even a lifetime of happiness.

We had very a very full holiday season as most large families deal with every year. Then there was a scare with my (now newborn) niece before and after her birth. Can you say on your knees praying like there’s no tomorrow?! So my 2013 goals were put on standby for new ones.

One thing that I did this year was to share my goals with a group of friends to keep me accountable.

“So here are some of my goals for 2012: Learn more about myself, and take care of me. Don’t put off getting my hair cut, don’t wear things that make me look older or just blah, work on my self confidence, wear makeup!! lol, go to the doctor before I get too sick, start back on some of myhealthy habits like eating better, working out, drinking water.”

I also made this little graphic so that I can have it on my desk, to remind me of what I want from this year:

So now that I’m working at home, I’m going to see this on my desk daily which a great reminder.

I have reminders on my phone too. I set goals through an app to reach each week. I may have 10 goals for the week, but they are all moving in the same direction.

One of my big goals is purge my closet of things that don’t make me happy. It may be the color, cut or feel of the garment, but if it doesn’t make me happy its going to the thrift store or being sold. There’s no room for clothes that make me feel bad!

In purging my closet I’m making my life more simple, and boosting my self confidence. Goals like this are being accomplished by something very simple that will make me feel happy. Even if I only purge one item a week, its part of my strategy to reach my goals before 2013.

I hired a business coach! This is helping me meet financial and personal goals in the first 2 weeks of the year. I may have to sell those clothes on eBay that don’t make me happy to continue with this goal, but can you see how one goal helps to secure the next? It’s all part of my strategic plan!

One thing that I want you to remember is that goals don’t happen overnight. They take work. Are you too busy to work? Work is the only way that you can change your life effectively. Winning the lottery isn’t an option!

What type of strategy have you put into place for 2012 to reach your resolutions or goals? I’d love to hear from you on some ways that you are putting those things into place.

We are planning on a regular Thanksgiving meal, with sweets and everything. I’m not going to go without the foods I only eat once a year. But that’s just it…its just once a year.

I also have a carb buster move that I’ll be doing called hoedowns, so that will certainly be something I’ll sneak away to do after dessert.

I’m going to pledge to workout at least 3 times this week, because I didn’t get that much in last week. Who’s keeping me accountable?

What is your plan to avoid overindulging during holiday feasts?

The plan here is to not do seconds on anything that isn’t a veggie or fruit, and get my water in daily so that I don’t feel as hungry AND eat breakfast!

“This post is sponsored by Eco-foil and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated toobesity prevention & weight loss for women“”

My friend Heather sent me some DVD’s and this is the one that I’ve been doing for the past week. It’s called Basic Workout Plus or BWO+ The amazing thing is that in a week of only 3-15 minute workouts, I lost 16 inches! Um yeah! Wow! I haven’t weighed at home in months, so I’m not sure exactly where I am there, but I do know on inches. And for me, inches really are what counts.

I can’t wait until the end of the year to see where I am. I’d be so happy to see results of a couple sizes loss by then. We’ll see.

How has Type II diabetes affected your life?

I can’t say that it has really affected me at all other than the scare that I may have it when I’m older. It doesn’t run in our family until someone hits their 60′s and then most all of my family controls it with diet. On the other hand my step kids mom is in her mid 30′s and was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes this past summer. Way more scary! So we are trying to teach them how to eat correctly and exercise.

This post is sponsored by Better’n Eggsand I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women

Dollar General is one of those stores that we frequent as a large family. It’s hard to go to town without stopping by and picking up a few things. It’s much easier than running into that big box store in town to pick up milk, eggs, bread or an afterschool snack at the last minute. 

This year, Dollar General is giving back to Military families. I can say that this promotion has really made a big impression on me. 

I’m all about helping military families as I’ve mentioned before. I’m so excited to share that on 11/11/11 military families will receive a 10% discount at Dollar General stores and online. They are online, who knew!

This can certainly help the families that have given so much to our country. 

The 10% discount is for Veterans, Active Military and their families available in store on Saturday 11/11/11, no coupon is needed. Dollar General’s Veteran’s Day discount

You aren’t Military? Me either. We can get the same discount online at http://dollargeneral.com . Mention the care packages for our troops and get FREE SHIPPING!

Please visit Dollar General on Facebook to support and thank our troops on Veterans Day.