Chinese chef, Martin Yan, correctly proclaimed, “You can do almost anything with soup stock, it’s like a strong foundation.  When you have the right foundation, everything tastes good.”  That is sort of how I feel about essential oils. I believe they provide a firm foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

When my dad was a young man, he was a civil engineer.  He worked for the State of Indiana.  During this time, he built a bridge in Indianapolis.  His whole life we had heard about this bridge, but if you know my dad, then you know he was a modest man, who was content taking the back seat to the rest of us.  When we would ask him about the bridge he designed, he would nonchalantly say it was on the south side of town, but really nothing more.

In recent years, when I visited I would mention driving down to view this particular bridge, but we never did.  When my dad passed away, one of the things I regretted was never going to see the bridge.  I read an article in the paper that same week which said several bridges in Indy were being torn down or remodeled.  I was bummed because I thought to myself, “Now we’ll never know where it was.”

At his funeral a man stood up to say some kind words about working with my dad when they labored together for the State.  Much to my delight, he told the story about the bridge my dad had built; how well-crafted and beautiful it was and what a firm foundation it had, as it had stood the test of time for all of these years.  We were surprised to find out that this was not a bridge that you drive upon, but a cross-walk sort of bridge over Madison Avenue on the south side of downtown Indianapolis.  The man went on to further explain that the bridge had changed somewhat over the years, because eventually they had added fencing along the top; presumably to keep kids from falling or jumping on to the street below, but it had the same firm foundation as when originally built.

I have had several people ask me questions over the past year, regarding essential oils.  Do they really work?  Are they worth the money?  What are they exactly?  How do they enter your body?  What are their benefits?  How long have they been around?

So here is the scoop in a nutshell.  Essential oils have been around forever.  In fact, they are mentioned directly or indirectly in the Bible over 1000 times.  They are the most powerful part of the plant.  Essential oils are distilled from trees, flowers, bushes, roots, fruit and herbs.  They consist of over 100 different, natural, organic compounds.  In humans, these oils provide support for every system in the body; including the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, endocrine, respiratory and immune systems.

There are about 300 known essential oils on earth, but we need only about ten to twenty to nurture a healthy lifestyle.  They enter the body topically, aromatically or by ingestion.  In Sarah Harnish’ s book, Gameplan, she explains, “Tests have shown oils reach the heart, liver and thyroid in three seconds when inhaled; they were found in the bloodstream in 26 seconds when applied topically,”

Not all essential oils are created equally.  If you have noticed they are popping up for sale everywhere.  There are four categories of essential oils: Grade A, B, C and D.  Grade A is therapeutic; meaning it is produced from organically grown plants and is distilled at low temperatures.  But be advised, even if a bottle states “therapeutic grade” or “pure”, the FDA only requires that it contain a minimum of five percent essential oil.  Do your research and buy from a reputable company. (For more information on 100% pure essential oils, you can check out Young Living’s Seed to Seal Promise. http://www.youngliving.com)

People are always touting what they use their essential oils for, how they help them with this or that, and how they are better than chemical based this or that.  But what I would like to focus on today, is the firm foundation essential oils provide for a healthy, chemical free lifestyle.

Just like my dad’s bridge has stood the test of time, and stands proudly over Madison Ave, essential oils have been around for thousands of years.  Just like Dad’s bridge provides support for people who want to safely cross a busy road, essential oils prudently support every system in our body.  Just like there are several ways to access my dad’s piece of work, essential oils can be safely ingested, topically applied, or deeply inhaled. Lastly, there are millions of bridges in the world, but only one is special to me because my dad designed it.  Similarly, there are lots of products on the market today, but it pays to research and choose the best; 100% pure, Grade A, therapeutic essential oils.  Remember, soup is yummy, bridges are beautiful, essential oils are the bomb, but they all provide a firm foundation!!

 

“Winter storm threatens East Coast, bringing temps colder than Mars”, is not a headline you read every day, but that was indeed the CNN headline earlier this week preceding the bombogenesis which hit the East Coast.  What the heck is a massive “bombogenesis” anyway?  According to Live Science, it is ‘wicked winter storms that rival the strength of a hurricane’.   In all actuality it is an area of rapidly declining low pressure which results in a “bomb cyclone”.   A bomb cyclone hit New England this week depositing 6-12 inches of snow on the area, and flinging wind gusts of up to 60mph, resulting in white out conditions.

The effects of the bomb cyclone were felt in Florida this week as it was unseasonably frigid. Most Floridians absolutely despise the cold temperatures, but not me.  I always tell people I love the cold weather but I hate being cold.  They sort of laugh and roll their eyes; like that makes no sense. Give me a sweater, winter coat, scarf, boots and gloves and I’m ready to enjoy the polar freeze.

Sometimes life’s challenges can be a lot like the bone chilling weather in Florida.  They are unexpected.  They are intense.  They are debilitating.  If you are not prepared for them, then they only make you miserable.  But if you have your “cold weather gear” on, you can see the beauty in the midst of your problems.  You’ve heard the old adage that God doesn’t promise you a rose garden.  It is true-He doesn’t, but He does promise you peace as you walk through the valley.

So, what can we do to prepare for headaches, obstacles, dilemmas, issues and complications that are thrown at us?  First, acknowledge life isn’t perfect and it isn’t meant to be.  We usually don’t grow, develop and make necessary changes when things are perfect.  It is when we run up against a brick wall that we must make adjustments, corrections and life decisions.  We shouldn’t desire a perfect life, instead we should seek an excellent life.

Second, once you acknowledge life isn’t perfect, now you need a plan in place for handling taxing situations.  Seek a stress-buster. Go for a walk or exercise.  Apply various essential oils.  Call a friend or confidant.  Read your Bible.  Sit quietly or play loud music. Participate in a hobby.  Everybody is different and each person deals with stress differently.  The main point to remember is to be prepared ahead of time so you are not overwhelmed and drowning in nerve-racking stress.

Third, and most importantly, recognize you need help.  You need other people for wisdom, encouragement and strength.  You need the Lord for wisdom, encouragement and strength.  We are not put on this earth to live alone, separated and independent from our fellow man.  We are not created to carry heavy burdens on our own.  We are created for fellowship.  We need each other.

Once you face the reality that life isn’t perfect, you have personal stress relievers in place, and you seek a little help from friends, you will be ready to face life’s challenges head on.  Just like being prepared with warm weather clothing in ice cold weather allows you to enjoy it or at least tolerate it, being prepared for what life throws at you will allow you to see the beauty in the midst of the challenges.  You may not always enjoy the difficult situations you face, but you will appreciate the personal growth that each obstacle provides.

So, was New England actually colder than Mars this past weekend?  Maybe our low temperatures are actually colder than Mars high temperatures, but that is where the similarity ends.  Mars is a frozen, barren, lifeless planet, but our Big Blue Marble totally supports life; challenges and all!

In 1985, Huey Lewis and the News belted out the lyrics: “You don’t need money, don’t take fame, don’t need no credit card to ride this train.  It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes, but it just might save your life.  That’s the power of love.  That’s the power of love.”  This was the chorus to the hit song in the blockbuster movie, Back to the Future.
The New Year provides an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on the previous 365 days.  What went well?  What really stunk?  What could have gone better?  Usually this assessment includes typical goals like weight loss, increased exercise, better time management skills, consistent homeschool lessons, daily Bible study, focused business building, homecooked meals, more family dinners, consistent prayer time, special family vacations, a cleaner house, a larger savings account, much less debt, better communication skills ect…  The list goes on and on.  All great goals.  All worthy of our time and attention.
A year ago this week, I met with two dear friends and we made vision boards for the upcoming year.  My board was filled with many of the goals mentioned above.  As I glued the pictures on the board, and wrote each careful goal in colorful ink, my board still looked dull and boring compared to my comrades.  When I was putting the finishing touches on the board, I decided to add pictures of my family members.  That was just the thing my vision board needed.  Finally, I was happy with the finished product.
I hung the board up in my bedroom where I would see it every day and would be reminded of all of these goals.  I had a plan.  I had a vision.  I had goals.  Now I was ready to teach, lose weight, pray, cook, study God’s Word, clean, save money, exercise reduce debt, communicate and plan vacations.  It was going to be an excellent and very productive year!
The following Sunday, I found myself on a flight to Indianapolis to see my dad who was critically ill in the hospital.  This was the beginning of two months of traveling back and forth from Panama City to Indy.  Two months of watching in awe as my dad fought with every ounce of strength and courage he had to overcome the enemy; lung cancer. Ultimately, lung cancer won the battle and on March 6, 2017, my dad, passed from this world into his heavenly home.
During those two months my dreams and goals seemed to sit around collecting dust.  I actually taught less, exercised less, spent less time with my kids, had few family dinners, acquired more debt, saved nothing, didn’t cook or clean, barely communicated with anyone other than my dad, and time management skills were totally out the window.  But none of that mattered because…I loved.  I wouldn’t trade one second of that treasured time I had with my dad, for anything in this world.  I’m so thankful, not for the enemy named cancer, but for the precious gift of time I had with my dad, which ironically was given to me because that heartless enemy reared its ugly head.
So, as you sit down and reflect on the past twelve months and make goals for the next twelve, remember to place love at the top of that list.  Spend time with people you love. Reach out to people you love.  Forgive people you love.  Love your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends.  Love your neighbor, the stranger and even your enemy. Love the unlovable.  Love because God is love, and we are made in His image.  Love just for the sake of loving.  Teach your children to love.  Love those who look like you, act like you, and believe like you, but also love those who dislike you, detest your lifestyle, and despise your convictions.  Show love to all mankind.  Love freely. Love selflessly.  Love abundantly.  Love without expectations.  Remember the ultimate goal is Love, because the Power of Love truly is a curious thing…

 

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson plainly proclaims, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

My name is Gina. I am a homeschool momma, who is on the final leg of our journey; three out of four kids graduated, with a sophomore in high school. I am a small business owner, who just recently began peddling essential oils; healthy, natural choices, with a passion for chemical free living. I am an exercise enthusiast, who enjoys cross fit, HITT, spinning, weight training and walking; five to six days a week minimum, with a desire for movement. I am an avid reader, who doesn’t have enough time to read; books on homeschooling, business, self-improvement, Bible study, with a little fiction. I am a Christian woman, who loves Jesus but not religion; religion promotes martyrdom, I’m taking back happy.

My friend Lawana and I walk the bridge once a week. It is an almost 3 mile walk over a bridge that separates Panama City from Panama City Beach. We were homeschool mom acquaintances, who became exercise buddies a couple years ago, and have become close friends due to the time we have invested in these weekly walks. We talk about everything from raising children, to building businesses, from contemplating relationships, to using essential oils, from homeschooling kids, to building friendships, from experiencing special life events, to losing people we love, from dealing with pain from the past, to seeking answers and hope for the future.

C.S. Lewis proclaimed, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” As we hike the bridge every week, we are walking, talking philosophers. No PhD has greater depth of subject nor wonder of creation as we ponder life, our purpose, and why we were born and live on this great, blue marble.

A few weeks ago, we stumbled over the profound thought that Christians, especially Christian women, wives and mothers are told we don’t need to be happy, but we must be………fill in the blank. It is almost like “happy” is a four-lettered word; something to be avoided at the risk of not being “spiritual” enough. Well enough is enough!! No more religious attitudes will keep us down. Jesus came to give us life, but not just life- more abundant life!! The Bible is filled with references to being happy. Our Creator gave us feelings. He desires for us to experience joy, happiness and laughter, just as we experience despair, sadness and pain. We can embrace the feelings because they are part of the abundant life, and how we were created.

The founders of our U.S. Constitution stated that these truths are obvious:
1) All men are created equal
2) God gave us undeniable rights
3) Right to Life
4) Right to Liberty
5) Right to the pursuit of happiness

My friend, you have the right to be happy. Happiness is worthy of pursuit. Find those things in life that get you excited. Hang with the people who lift you up and bring joy into your life. Seek those dreams that make your heart beat just a little bit faster.
Ladies, We Are Taking Back Happy!!