Author: Tracy

Raising a Future Adult

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Parenting Is...Parenting is tough. When we realize that while they are kids, we’re not actually raising kids, we’re raising future adults, it’s downright daunting. Usually, the right thing to do (in parenting and in life), is not the easy thing to do. Children are not usually others-centered, hard workers, responsible, or respectful naturally. These are traits that must be taught. And typically, the teaching process is not easy. They aren’t going to want to do the things that will teach them character, so if we don’t force them to, it’s not going to happen.

Raising future adults means parenting our children in such a way that we are mindful of the adult they will become. If we want our children to be persons of character, morally sound, hard workers, kind and compassionate, and others-centered, then that’s how we need to raise them. We cannot assume they will just magically become that way when they cross the threshold to adulthood.

Proudly Not an Expert

Now, I won’t pretend to have all the answers or solutions, nor do I claim to be an expert at parenting (or anything else for that matter), this is just an observation. It’s something that is at the forefront of my mind, as I go through this parenting journey. And it’s something that’s been validated by an event I witnessed recently.

Several months ago, I went camping with my daughter, and I caught a glimpse of the person she is turning into. And I was incredibly proud of my girl. The morning was spent making crafts, and in the afternoon, they engaged in field play. At the end of the session, another little girl became distraught because she lost the craft necklace she had made earlier. It was to be a gift for her mom. Within moments, there were dozens of people scouring that field in search of this missing craft necklace, made with love, by a little girl, for her mother. Sadly, it was not found.

The search was forsaken after a time, and the little girl was inconsolable. At that moment, I saw my daughter approach this little girl. I was near enough to hear her, and I figured she was going to offer the girl her sympathies, and she did… but she did so much more. She told her how sorry she was that she (the little girl) lost the necklace and that they couldn’t find it. Then she said, “I know you worked hard to make it for your mom and it was a special present.” Taking off her own necklace, she offered it to the little(er) girl, saying, “You can have mine to give to your mom. I know it’s not yours, but I don’t mind.”

I May Not Be Perfect

Wow, talk about a proud Mama! In that brief moment, I witnessed my daughter extend to another hurting person, the virtues of compassion, validation, love, and kindness. It was completely unprompted by me (in the same way that she goes out of her way to thank heroes ~ military, police, and firemen ~  for their service). With tears clouding my eyes I saw her clearly as the person she is becoming… a world changer. Yes, I have worked hard to influence her to be a young lady of character, I have taught her right from wrong and shown her how to think of and care for others. But it’s more than that…

It’s her… it’s who she is. She is called and purposed, as a daughter of the King,  to reflect His light, show His love, and fulfill His calling in her life. In her own innocent and loving way, she tried to live out the saying, “Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.” She saw a situation that was hurtful to another person and had the confidence in herself, to believe there was something she could do to make it better.

Be Who God Meant You to Be

That’s what a world changer does. They see, and then they do something about it. World changers don’t just pay lip service ~ they walk the talk. They walk in integrity. They offer encouragement, compassion, and kindness freely and without hesitation. They realize it doesn’t cost to be kind, but that kindness offered spreads far and wide. Like a pebble thrown into a lake, it doesn’t just affect the one spot it lands, but rather it ripples out, touching and changing even what is much further away. Kindness matters.

Throw Kindness Around

Easy DIY Thieves Hand Sanitizer Spray

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Dirty Hands

Life is messy, right? And lets be honest here, some of the best things in life get our hands dirty ~ petting animals, playing in mud puddles, digging in a garden, and heck, even cooking gets our hands dirty. While I personally still believe that a good old-fashioned hand-washing with soap and water is best, it’s not always practical. Especially if our hands have no visible dirt on them.

Washing Hands

Not only is life messy, but it’s also germy. Even hands that look clean, may be covered in germs. We can come into contact with germs outside and inside. Not all germs are harmful, but some are extremely dangerous, and since we can’t see them, it’s best to just be safe about it, and sanitize those hands!

Hand Germs

And speaking of safe, normal, commercialized hand sanitizer isn’t all that safe. Sure, it will kill germs, but not without adding a bunch of unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals. Yuck, who wants that?

One of the common chemicals found in commercial hand sanitizer is triclosan ~ an antibiotic compound that actually builds up a resistance to antibiotics that making the bacteria you’re trying to kill even stronger. It kills the good bacteria that usually kills the bad bacteria, which lowers your resistance to disease. Other problems with triclosan are a weakened and compromised immune system, increased allergies and hay fever, and hormone disruption.

So what’s a mom (or person) to do? Hellooooo ~ make your own! It’s natural,  extremely easy AND inexpensive. Yay!

Thieves Spray

Easy DIY Thieves Thieves Hand Sanitizer Spray

What You Need:

  • 1 4oz Dark Glass Spray Bottle
  • 2 Tsp Witch Hazel
  • 20 Drops Thieves Essential Oil
  • 1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
  • Not quite 4oz Distilled Water

How To Make:

In your clean spray bottle, first add your sea salt, then add your Thieves oil. Allow it to sit and absorb for five minutes. Then add the Witch Hazel and fill with distilled water. Put the sprayer back on the bottle, shake, and use. See? Easy-peasy!

 

In addition to using this spray on your hands to sanitize, you can also use it to:

  • Clean toddler/kids toys
  • Disinfect public restroom toilet seats
  • Clean airplane armrests and trays
  • Sanitize doorknobs
  • Freshen gym bags
  • Wipe down cutting boards
  • Room freshener
  • Wipe down cellphones, handbags, and steering wheels
  • Shopping carts

 

Note: The above recipe is for one 4oz bottle, but you can easily half the recipe for a 2oz bottle, or even keep the recipe the same and use 2 2oz bottles. 

Easy Fresh Apple Dump Cake

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apple-dump-cake-1Sometimes you just want something sweet. And easy. And good for you too! What, it’s not? It’s made with apples! Okay, so good for you might be stretching it a bit. But did I mention it was good? And easy? That makes it a win-win!
Dump cakes have been around for a long time, and there’s a reason for that. They’re simple. Really simple. But they don’t taste simple, they taste deliciously complicated. Which makes them a perfect dessert choice. Whether going to a pot luck, having friends over, treating the family, or sitting home alone on a Friday night with your fluffy socks, jammies, wine, movie or Netflix, and cats, this cake is a great choice!
apple-dump-cake-4
Fresh Apple Dump Cake ~
Ingredients:
Apples (I use 4-5 Granny Smith and 1 Honeycrisp because I like a little bit of tart and sweet)*
 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Melted Butter
1 Yellow Cake Mix
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
apple-dump-cake-2
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350
Layer your thinly sliced apples at the bottom of a 9×13 pan that has been coated with non-stick spray.
Whisk cake mix and cinnamon
Sprinkle cake mix and cinnamon over apples.
Pour 1 cup of melted butter over the top.
Bake at 350 for approximately 35-45 minutes — it’s done when it is nice and bubbly.

 

apple-dump-cake-3

 

Serve warm with a generous scoop of ice cream, or, if you’re me, a VERY generous serving of whip cream, and enjoy!
*I like my apples sliced and peeled, though you could leave the peel on and dice them too.

Amazing Homemade Italian Seasoning

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I’m a seasoning kind of girl. Life is just too short to be bland… know what I mean? I will never claim to be a gourmet cook, but this I know ~ cooking, and life, needs seasoning! Yeah, a person can get by with just a couple of “staples,” but where’s the fun in that? After all, variety IS the spice of life, right? (See what I just did there? Wink, Wink)

spices

One of my most frequently used seasonings is Italian Seasoning. Lots of recipes seem to call for it, and hellooooo, it’s just good! Sometimes. Well, probably most of the time, but let’s be honest, if your taste buds don’t match that of the person (manufacturer) making the seasoning, you’re not going to like it, and you’re not going to use it.

This happened to me. I purchased a bottle of name brand Italian Seasoning at the store. I couldn’t wait to use it (or maybe I bought it specifically for a meal I was making), so I went home, opened it, put it up to my nose to breathe in the wonderful aroma… and went, “Eeewwww!”  I didn’t smell basil (my favorite), oregano, garlic, or any of the other scents I thought I would smell. Nope, I smelled sage. It was overwhelming. That was it… just sage, sage, sage!

I thought to myself, “Self, surely it CAN’T be that bad, it’s Italian Seasoning!” So I decided to go ahead and use it. Big mistake. That evening, my hearty pasta dish tasted like tomato-y Thanksgiving stuffing. Ick. Don’t get me wrong, I do LIKE sage, but it has its place, you know?

Thus began my quest to find the perfect Italian Seasoning. I found a couple different recipes and tried them. This is the one I settled on. (I found this recipe on One Hundred Dollars a Month.) Of course, everyone is different, and your taste might be different than mine, but that’s the beauty of DIY ~ you can make any change you feel necessary. How cool is that?!

diy-italian-seasoning

AMAZING ITALIAN SEASONING: 

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp dried parsley
3 Tbsp dried basil
2 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tsp dried thyme
1 Tsp garlic powder
1 Tsp onion powder
1 Tsp dried rosemary
1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 Tsp black pepper

Directions:

Mix all the spices together in a small bowl, then give them a whirl in your food processor. Then store in an airtight container. Easy-peasy!

Next time you need a little Italian Seasoning for your dressing, pasta dish, steak, seafood, or any other dish you might be preparing, you are ready with your very own blend!

diy-italian-seasoning-2

 

For Such a Time as This

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Dark Times

Tough times and dark days. That’s what we’re living in… the times are tough, the days are dark, and everywhere, evil abounds. Yes, this present age is trying, turbulent, and troubled for sure. I’ve heard people use the term “uncertain” too, but I think that’s wrong… There are many passages in the Bible that foretell what is to come. And those days are now. Just a quick glance at Matthew 24:4-14 confirms that:

 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”

Recently, as I was hearing of yet another sad, tragic story, I felt the familiar pang of righteous anger rising up in me (yes, it’s okay to be angry about the evil that is running rampant in the world), but it was followed by a Bible verse that surprised me. It was from the book of Esther. 

I began thinking of the story of Esther, and how God used her, an unlikely Jewish orphan girl, raising her up to be a queen, to save His people. Esther was young and beautiful, and must have had a pleasing personality, as she found favor from those around her. But she was also unassuming, a regular girl, seemingly filled with self-doubts and uncertainty. Yet she was obedient to the direction of her uncle and spiritual mentor, and God used her in a mighty way. Despite her doubts, fears, and insecurities.

“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

When I thought about this verse, I realized how true it is today. Consider this: We are here, now, for a reason. God placed us in this challenging, intense, and terror-filled time, specifically because He has a plan and a purpose for us, right now. And He created us with the gifts, talents, and passions that we need to fulfill His purpose in our life.

So what is the purpose God has for us? Simply put, we are to point the way to Jesus to a lost and dying world. We are to be a light shining in the darkness. I believe that in today’s world, the light of God inside us will shine brighter, because the world has grown darker.

Let Your Light Shine

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ~ Matthew 5:15-15

While there are many nice, or easy, ways to shine His light (loving people, being a good friend, visiting shut-ins, working at a food pantry, etc), the time has come to step it up, and move to another level.

Now is the time to speak the truth, to be a witness… We need to be bold with our words, because the time for subtlety and ambiguity has passed. No more just showing the character of Jesus with our Christian friends, but with the world too. This is the information age, and we have the ability to influence others in a way never before in history. Social media has enabled us to expand our circle of influence, to be missionaries even <GASP!>, without leaving our homes. (Of course this must be done in a non-Pharisaical way.)

God Chose the Foolish Things

Today, I think many of us are like Esther… unlikely for being a world changer. But that is precisely what we are, and why God chose us. He doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called. We too, may be insecure and doubtful, but if we trust God, and are willing, He will embolden us to stand up, stand out, and speak out, proclaiming His goodness, mercy, grace, love, and righteousness. Yes, righteousness. It’s not all about the warm & fuzzy stuff… it’s the hard stuff too. And it’s being willing to proclaim the state of the world because we’ve taken God out of it, it’s not being afraid to call evil what it is…evil! It’s accepting the possibility of being mocked, marginalized, mistreated, or even martyred for doing so.

We don’t have to be polished and eloquent to speak up for God, just willing. We don’t need to have a theology degree, but we better know the Word if we are to speak His Word. We don’t have to look like we just stepped out of a fashion magazine to be a voice in the wilderness. We don’t have to be perfect, or sinless either… in fact, we won’t be. But we do have to be on God’s side, and have him living inside of us.

Yes, the days are certain,  but so is the outcome… God wins. That means we (those who choose to follow Jesus) win too. Yes, we might experience tribulation, torment, ridicule, and even unfathomable evil, but in the end, we win. That is the comfort, that is the hope. That is what we need to share to this lost and dying world. And for that purpose, we have been placed here, for such a time as this.

For Such a Time as This 1

 

We’re Growing Up

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Last week was a big week for us… meaning for my daughter and I. She is almost 9 years old, and growing way too fast for me, and way too slowly for herself. Last week though was one to remember. It was the week she left.

Time For Change

All of her life, she has spent most of her time with us. There’s been no daycare, little babysitting (with trusted friends), and a small number of sleepovers (with the same trusted friends). And we homeschool. She did go on a trip with her dad last year (I had to stay home to care for the dogs ~ our pet sitter canceled at the last minute), but that’s just it… she was still with her dad.

This week though, she got to do something she’s never before done ~ she went to Kid’s Camp with our church. It was a wonderful opportunity for her, and of course, she had an amazing time. Truth be told, I knew she would. I signed her up, and I talked her into going. She was a bit reluctant at first, but the excitement quickly grew as she learned more about it. And of course, many of her friends were going.

Summer Camp

When it came time to leave for camp, she did great! Much better than I did. I had such a hard time letting her go. I knew she would love it, I knew she would have fun, and I knew she would have an awesome God experience, but still… it was hard to let her go… and I was a wreck.

But after hugging her about 7,240 times, I sent her off. I knew I could trust the people she was with. And I had a friend who would be keeping a special eye on her for me, who would also be sending me update texts and pictures, for my peace of mind. Still, I cried.

After an eternity 26 hours, she returned to me. She was safe and sound, energized, though exhausted, and most importantly,  she was touched by God. Also, she seemed a little older to me, a little wiser. And she was more connected to friends. I was relieved to have her home, thrilled to hear her stories, and proud that she did so well. (I was even excited to hear about the copious amounts of ice cream she ate ~ even for breakfast!)

Ice Cream Cones

She’s growing up and needing me less. She’s still a little girl, but she is changing into an amazing young lady. She is maturing and growing in her independence, and I marvel at the gift God has given me in entrusting her to me. I know that as much as she is mine, she is His even more. And I know that my greatest achievement will be in raising her to love Jesus and serve Him. And I’m grateful when I see glimpses of that in our everyday life, and when she goes away to camp.

Yesterday, in church, a video was played, showing all the kids and activities going on at Kid’s Camp. Of course, I eagerly looked for her… would I see her in the crowd? Yes, I did. Three times. And all three times that I saw her, I saw her doing the same thing… arms raised, worshiping Him. I felt comforted, proud, touched, and blessed. Seeing that did my Mama heart good. Seeing your child worshiping God is a pretty amazing thing.

Kids in Worship.jpg

What this experience has shown me is this… time moves forward, everything changes, children become more independent, and letting go is hard, though necessary. It’s also shown me that maybe she’s not the only one growing up (and having growing pains)… that maybe I am too.

 

Lemon Sugar Foot Scrub

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I’m a flip-flops and sandals sort of girl ~ always have been and always will be. Of course, it helps that I live in the Southwest, where warmer weather is far more common than colder weather. However, this means that I have to pay extra~special attention to my feet, as they get dry and cracked from weather, dirt and constant exposure to the elements.

Life is Better in Flip Flops

So, what’s a girl to do? Pamper the piggies, of course! Nothing beats a good pedicure (can I get an AMEN?), but honestly, most of us probably can’t afford to get a pedicure every time our feet need a little extra attention (like weekly, if not daily)! But there is a way to give a little TLC to sore, tired, and dry tootsies… a good foot soak and/or a sugar scrub! And seriously, what piggies don’t want to be pampered?

This easy DIY lemon foot scrub offers two different types of exfoliation for dry, rough, and ravaged feet: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation uses anything abrasive to dislodge and remove dead skin cells – in this case, sugar. Chemical exfoliation is the use of alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids to dissolve dead skin cells and promote regeneration. Lemon juice is a great natural source of alpha hydroxy acids.

Lemon Sugar Scrub Mix

This scrub will keep for a long time in a jar. It’s a good idea to store it in a cool area out of sunlight to prevent the oils from oxidizing. It may separate over time, but if that happens, you can just give it a quick stir before you use it. No worries!

My favorite time to use it is just before I go to bed so the oils that are left on my skin can be absorbed by the skin as I sleep. I use about 1 Tablespoon of the scrub for both feet, but I like to use a lot – you can probably get away with using less.

Lemon Sugar Foot Scrub

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup avocado or coconut oil
  • 1 cup cane sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice (or the juice of 1/2 a lemon)
  • 6 drops of lemon essential oil
  • 3 drops of peppermint essential oil (optional ~ I love the added cooling benefit)

Instructions:

~ Add all of the ingredients to a medium sized bowl and stir until combined.
~ If you prefer a coarser texture, you can add more sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time.
~ If you prefer a more liquid scrub, you can do the same with avocado or coconut oil.
~ Store your finished scrub in a clean, airtight jar.

* If you prefer, you may use any other essential oil that you might like, as well as vanilla or almond extract.

Of course, this sugar scrub can be used on your hands or body too! And what did I tell ya? Easy-peasy, right?

Lemon Sugar Scrub MFL.png

Yes, There Are Hypocrites in Church

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I was hanging out with a friend the other day, we were chatting, our kiddos were swimming and playing together, and it was just a fun, warm, sunny, summer day. I said something about the church, as I frequently do, and this time she didn’t just “uh-huh” me. This time she listened. This time she asked questions, engaged, and shared.

Like many people, my friend “believes” in God, but she’s not serving God, she hasn’t turned her life over to him. As far as people go, she’s a good person, even though she’s not a Christian in the true sense of the word.

Believe in God

My friend didn’t grow up going to church, though she went a few times with friends. And that’s not something she’s done as an adult either. But now she has kids. And she admitted she thinks they should have that experience ~ after all, how can they choose for themselves if they aren’t even exposed to it. And it’s supposed to be good for families. But…

She doesn’t believe in “organized religion,” because there are too many hypocrites. She knows too many “church people” who say one thing, but behave completely differently. It’s not about drinking, smoking, tattoos, listening to the wrong kind of music, or any other “thing” that churchy people love to get their panties in a bunch over. It’s more like snobbery, judgment, gossip, lying, cheating, etc.

My response? You’ll love it… well, actually, you’ll probably hate it, but whatever… What I told her is basically this… I’m a Christian, and I read my Bible, and I love Jesus, but as a whole, I pretty much can’t stand Christians. I told her I understood how she felt, and there’s a lot of truth to it. But there’s much more to going to church than that. And we talked a little more, and I think her family will end up visiting our church with us, but I knew that she knew that I heard her. And I didn’t pressure her, push her, or judge her.

Two Different Messages

What I didn’t say to her is this: I believe Christians to be one of the greatest hindrances to Christ. I really do. The way Christians attack each other, gossip (in the name of prayer, of course), pass judgment on even the stupidest of things, lie, sow dissension, and act thoroughly self-righteous, is quite frankly nauseating. Oh, but if there’s a need, they’ll bring a casserole (and make sure everyone knows it), so that makes it all okay. Wrong.

Though our hearts should be pure, open, and loving when we go to church, it’s not always that way. There is often goodness, helpfulness, and a welcoming spirit in a church congregation. But there’s also something darker… more deceptive at play as well. On the downside… there are people who use the church to make fashion statements, and if you don’t look or dress a certain way, then you just don’t belong. Others view the church as a popularity contest ~ it’s like they’re finally getting high school right, only they’re now in their 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s ~ and if you’re not in, well, then you’re out.

People in the church, just like outside of the church, have agendas. Some are jockeying for position, some want power and see church titles as giving them that, some want the spotlight and all they need is to be on stage.

We're All Broken

None of these things are the right reasons for being in church. BUT… None of them are reasons to avoid church either. See, the church is for all of us. And we’re all broken, flawed sinners. Truthfully,  in the church, there are more people who honestly love and serve God with a pure heart, than there are people who are there for their own selfish reasons, swimming in their own sanctimony. We just tend to remember more the ones who hurt us, or who offer a poor representation of who Jesus is.

Yes, there are hypocrites in the church. There are liars, thieves, adulterers, and snobs in the church. There are people filled with pride, arrogance, and judgment too (basically, sanctimonious jerks). But don’t let that keep you from the church. There is much good, love, compassion, support, and friendship within the church as well.

When people know, or believe, we are Christians, but our actions are un-Christlike, we not only turn people away from the church, we also turn them away from Christ. We need to go to church for Jesus. We need to look for those who represent Him and be wary of the ones who don’t. And always make it our mission to be one of the ones that represent Him, not one who doesn’t. Leave all that other stuff, the dark stuff, for Him to sort out. He will.

Atheism

 

Pest-Away Spray

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It’s summertime! And who doesn’t love outside summer fun?! Yes, there can be some drawbacks, but basically, it’s fun! Fresh air, sunshine, no school, playing in the sprinklers, swimming in the pool (or a lake if you’re so inclined), hanging out with friends, campfires, S’mores… the list could go on, but it boils down to this ~ it’s fun!

Sprinkler Fun

So what can ruin that fabulous fun? Outside summer pests. Creepy, crawly, flying, biting pests (no, not ladybugs, they’re an exception, as my daughter would tell me). Bug spray is helpful for those who enjoy the great outdoors. What is not great is about bug spray, however, is that all the harmful chemicals that are used to kill those pests are also harmful to us. Basically, we’re spraying poison on our skin ~ our biggest organ. And yes, what we put on us, we put in us. No thank you!

Bugged by Bugs

Safely Protected

There is a safe alternative to commercial bug spray… make your own! There are numerous ways that nature offers protection from pests ~ typically in the form of specific plants, and in this case, the essential oil obtained from plants. Plants that are natural pest repellents include Basil, Catnip, Cedarwood, Citronella, Chamomile, Garlic, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass, Marigold, Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and more.

Bug Deterrent Plants

There are many different recipes available for making your own comfort spray. Typically, a base of vodka, witch hazel, or apple cider vinegar is used with distilled water. Then you add whatever extras you prefer. I have found that using vodka (cheap, don’t spend money on the “good stuff”) is my preference. Also, most of the recipes I’ve found are for small amounts, but I prefer to make up a large bottle and transfer to a smaller bottle as needed (less work that way). Here is my favorite recipe:

DIY Outdoor Comfort Spray

~ 2 Cups Vodka (or Witch Hazel)
~ 2 Cups Distilled Water
~ 25 Drops Purification EO
~ 15 Drops Peppermint EO
~ 15 Drops Cedarwood EO
~ 15 Drops Citronella EO

Add to amber or dark blue spray bottle and you’re done! Shake and use as needed. Easy-peasy! 🙂

Natural Outdoor Comfort Spray

What Every Woman Should Know

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First off, I didn’t write this list. But I wish I had. Second, I wish every woman in America (heck, in the world) would get this. I mean really get this. Third, I wish I would get this. Always.

10 Facts

10 Facts Every Woman Should Know:

1. Everyone has rolls when they bend over.
2. When someone tells you that you’re beautiful, believe them. They aren’t lying.
3. Sometimes we all wake up with breath that could kill a goat.
4. For every woman unhappy with her stretch marks is another woman who wishes she had them.
5. You should definitely have more confidence. And if you saw yourself the way others see you, you would.
6. Don’t look for a man to save you. Be able to save yourself.
7. It’s okay to not love every part of your body….but you should.
8. We all have that one friend who seems to have it all together. That woman with the seemingly perfect life. Well, you might be that woman to someone else.
9. You should be a priority. Not an option, the last resort, or a backup plan.
10. You’re a woman. That alone makes you pretty damn remarkable.

~ Austin Blood

 

Oh, how I wish I had known these things when I was younger. Looking back, I see how utterly insecure I used to be. It is astonishing how critical I was about myself, how much I compared myself to others… and came up short. I was so freaking critical of myself, and now, I don’t really know why. Other than that I was just young and had next to zero self-esteem.

It happens. The zero self-esteem thing… it happens. To far too many of us, I’m afraid. When you grow up not being built up, but rather, torn down, it’s hard to break that off. It’s hard to see yourself with value if as a child, you weren’t valued. Sometimes, it’s hard to see yourself with value, even if you were valued.

Insecurities

The thing is, society the media puts ridiculously impossible standards on women. Standards that, quite frankly, are a lie. The media photoshop, perfect lighting, and stage makeup to erase flaws and create the illusion of perfection. Perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect eyebrows, perfect body, perfectly thin, perfectly smooth, perfectly bronzed (without fear of skin cancer), perfectly wrinkle-free… and it’s all… perfectly… crap.

Today, I look at pictures of me when I was young, and I see something I wish I could have seen then. I see a young woman who was beautiful, who had a smile that could light up a room, who was thin and fit. I see someone who was funny, witty, and charming. I see someone intelligent and fun, who was vivacious and loved life. I laughed often and often made others laugh. I wish I could have seen that then.

Beauty Opposite Perfection

Now I see that while I wasn’t perfect (and who of us is, really?), I was pretty dang awesome. I truly enjoyed making other people feel good, and I had a kind, caring heart. Unfortunately, I used to be too hard on myself. I used to think of myself as plain, fat (though I was size 8-10) mediocre, and simply less-than. I just never felt pretty enough, smart enough, popular enough… I never felt good enough. What a waste! Those kinds of thoughts are a waste of time, a waste of energy, and a waste of spirit.

Now, with the advantage of age, maturity, and perspective, I see myself much differently. I know I’m not perfect. But I also know that I’m pretty freaking awesome. I have a lot to offer, and well, if someone doesn’t like me, I’m okay with that. I hope that doesn’t seem arrogant, it’s just that I’ve finally grown to love me ~ imperfections and all. It’s how I know that I’m flawesome!

Flawesome 2

More importantly, I know that God loves me, he approves of me, and he designed me the way he wanted me to be. I know that my imperfections, my flaws, and my idiosyncrasies, are what makes me special. They make me, me.  I now know I am a masterpiece, created by the God of the Universe, and he made me unique, the way he wanted me to be. And who am I to argue with that?

To See Myself the Way You Do

To see myself the way he does. Not for how skinny or flawless I am, how put together I am, how popular I am, or how pedigreed I am.

God sees us as beautiful, precious, unique, loved, and passionate. He sees us as daughters of the King. He chose us. He desires us.

Imagine that. The God of all creation, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega… He desires us. He pursues us. He values us. And He wants a relationship with us. And that is enough.