Day#8 of Living with Essential Oils-Lessons Learned

Day #8. How can it be that our lives have changed so much in just 8 days! Tim even packed up his cpap machine because he hasn't had a need for it; Valor has given him, and me!, profound relief from his snoring and sleep apnea. The gargantuan stomachache I had today was relieved by simply rubbing Peppermint oil on my stomach. No need for man-made meds, which is just extraordinary to me. The kids have slept better by far, except for last night, than they have slept for months. Grandma has felt better and had a great reduction in snoring, and even some nights without any snoring. I have had more energy, which is in itself remarkable given what all these essential oils are having to fix in this imperfect body living in an imperfect world!

I mentioned in yesterday's post about my very experience in drinking a coke. In case you missed it (it was riveting, astounding composition, I assure you!), I've been trying to cut out sodas, which for me means coke, but had a 20oz. Coke over the space of about 12 or 15 hours, an evening and a morning. The effect was a nasty stomachache which kept me miserable until I remembered the Peppermint and applied it Neat to my stomach. Within minutes, I felt much better. It was like a science experiment so cool you couldn't believe the result of it! Maybe God knew what He was doing with creating these plants for our benefits after all! Duh! (Does anyone say “duh” anymore? If they don't, please substitute a more appropriate word in place of my gaff) Later when my stomach tried to revolt and turn into a heavy, lead rock weighing me down, I simply applied Peppermint again. Again, within minutes, I was feeling much better and without the chalky consistency and aftertaste of Rolaids or that nasty-liquid-stuff-you-keep-in-the-fridge-but-never-want-to-drink-because-it-is-so-very-nasty. Well after that second application my stomach was fine. No, I didn't feel like eating a 10oz ribeye or a juicy hamburger, but I was able to function and not be miserable for the rest of the day and into the night and even eat something light.

I've been reading a book called Healing Oils of the Bible based on recommendations from people associated with Young Living. I was able to get it from the library, and I have found it to be very enjoyable. The history involved in it is what I love, because history is my favorite subject, but the honest faith descriptions and insights into what oils really meant not just signified to the people of the Bible times has impressed me. Not everyone will agree with the author, I'm sure, but I have found the subjects discussed to be enlightening and suggest anyone uncertain of the true power in these essential oils or skeptical about what oils can and are intended to do, read this book.

Another issue of the day, was Mercy getting very upset and discouraged through doing her math. We homeschool and math is most often her favorite subject, but some days she expects too much of herself and gets overwhelmed. Sometimes, she is her own worst enemy. And her heart is so tender and loving, she upsets herself by not reaching her own expectations or because of fear of not reaching our expectations or what she thinks will be our expectations. So after a bout of discouragement and not being able to work through it, I applied Peppermint on her neck and nose for concentration and to wake up her senses. We were at the end of the school day and I knew her brain was tired by the look of her eyes. She was working herself up, so I also applied Peace & Calming to her shoulders to promote, you guessed it!, peace and calming. I told her to go read until she felt calm and then we would try again. Mercy told me later she felt much better after I put that “stuff” on her. Out of the mouth of babes, people! And this particular babe is going to be 9 in just a few weeks. How can that be?!!!!!!!

Mercy also had a horrible night last night, coming to our bed for the first time in months, telling her daddy she had a nightmare. Like me, she has always been prone to bad dreams and a hard time going to sleep. I can still recall some nasty dreams I had as a five-year-old, so I didn't want her to experience another night like the last one. So this night, after reading a tip from a fellow Lemon Dropper in the Lemon Drop Lounge, I applied the Lavender like normal on M, but then I added Valor to her feet and Peace & Calming to her shoulders. Unlike me, she likes the smell of P&C, but it doesn't smell as bad as the funeral home flower smell as it did at first. Then, I fervently prayed over her.

Every night I sing a lullaby to both of my children that I made up for them when they were little babies. Then after I sing it, I say a prayer over them and then they pray themselves. But this instance was more spiritual warfare. I don't know what you believe or don't believe, but I know what I believe, and that is we live in a fallen world as a formerly fallen people that have been made friends of God if we believe in Him and let His Son make us new again by believing in Him also, but the devil tries every trick he can to torment us children, by harming us, stealing from us, destroying us and what is ours, and killing us. I also believe that Psalm 91 says we do not have to be afraid of the terrors of the night and Psalm 4 says that we can both lie down and sleep for the Lord alone keeps us safe. Therefore, I prayed fervently over my child that she would have strength and courage and be brave, that fear would not overtake her, that night terrors could not come near her, that only good dreams could be in her night sleep, and that the Lord would protect her, and guard her heart and her mind. It was a moment I know faith happened. It was like the moments after my cancer diagnosis. I knew death was not part of the equation, that I would be alright. I didn't have any medical proof that I would actually make it, but I knew, if I allowed the Lord to be my strength I would live. In this moment, praying over my beloved daughter, I knew she would not suffer from bad dreams and that she would sleep peacefully.

During all of this, I had also applied Lavender to John-behind his ears, down his neck and across his bottom eye bones. After his lullaby and prayers I sent him on to bed. However, unlike his normal routine, he came to me fifteen minutes later saying he couldn't sleep. He said he only needed a drink of water, so he got that and went back to bed. Ten minutes later he returns, saying he still can't sleep. By which point I happen to know Mercy is already asleep. What an amazing God we serve! Even our sleep matters to Him, our God of More Than Enough! Realizing my error for not including John in the same regiment as Mercy, I silently repent, and rub Valor on his feet (which he loved because it tickled) and Peace & Calming on his shoulders. Then I prayed over him further, asking that God help him to go to sleep quickly and stay asleep all through the night, that he have no bad dreams, only good dreams. That his mind and heart be guarded and his angels protect him and that he both lie down and sleep for the Lord keeps him safe. He must have gone on to sleep, because he didn't come back out of his room, and he is not one to suffer alone in his bed if he can't sleep and there is someone else's bed he can crawl into.

Tim did not have any oils tonight, because he went to bed before me and I, shock of all shockers, didn't pause in my blog posting to go rub his feet in Valor, even if they are softer feet than the feet of Day#1. I'm still learning the humble lesson, so no judging! I, however, used Lavender behind my ears and on my temples; a drop of Thieves on my chest; Peace & Calming on my shoulders; Valor on my the bottoms of my feet, but I forgot to put it on my jawbone to help with TMJ and teeth grinding. Ah, the lessons we learn the hard way! I believe Grandma used P&C, Lavender, Valor, & Purification on her chest to help her breathe. I plan to put some Thieves on our dog's bed and some Valor to help her stop snoring, It's kind of funny when the dog becomes the loudest snorer in the house!!

Days #6 & #7 of Living with Essential Oils-Peppermint Water & Stomachache Relief

Don't be upset that you didn't get your daily dose of me yesterday! I'm sure you were all overwhelmed with a sense of disappointment and had to whip out your Peppermint essential oil to chase away the dashed hopes of getting the chance to read all about this crazy woman trying to make sense (that wasn't an intentional pun) on using all of these essential oils. Really dear, it is okay. I understand.

Now that we both know you didn't miss me or my missing entry for day #6 and had no idea I hadn't posted yesterday, until just now, we will get on with the getting on about essential oils. I love you anyway!

Day #6: Tim and I both had Lemon water, something we are trying to drink every day now. It is so refreshing! Why not just put lemon juice in your water, you ask? I happen to love lemon juice in my water, but this is something even better. You get the benefits of the aroma of Lemon, a natural mood enhancer among other things; it just brightens your day. Then, the taste is not overwhelming but soothes the body with a sense of rejuvenation and invigorates your senses from your tongue all the way down your digestive system. Even lemon extract does not attain the sensation or the satisfaction of Lemon essential oil flavored water. I can't wait to find some carbonated water to add it to! I love carbonated drinks, the feeling of fizzy in my mouth. That is why cutting out sodas has been so hard for me. But more about that later.

I've learned in the past six days that if I put on Peppermint and Lavender as soon as I wake up, on my neck(back and front), temples, across the bridge of my nose, and lightly across the bottom eye bones I get a head start on my allergies and feel much better than if I wait. When I was a teenager and would wake up on spring mornings, I would sneeze, and sneeze, and sneeze, and...well you get the picture. It was so bad, and we were unaware of my allergy to benedryl which was only making it all worse, that it became a game to count how many times I sneezed in a row. Finally, my dad said he would no longer say, “bless you!” after number 47 and I hit that number quite often. Needless to say my neck hurt a lot.

The Peppermint is quickly becoming one of my most favorite oils. I immediately perk up after putting it on and my sinuses reduce in swelling and pressure. It also helps with clarity and I plan to diffuse it while my daughter does math as soon as I get my home diffuser from Young Living in my next order. However, the Lavender spread NEAT (aka undiluted) across the bottom eye bone (nowhere nearer, as oils do not belong in our eyes) has been the best thing for the pollen effect on my eyes. Used to I would have to put in a specific eye drop prescription in both eyes each spring morning to keep them from itching, watering, puffing, and being generally irritated in a shade of red that was so unflattering. I have to date(day#8), only used my eyedrops once since my kit came. Amazing!!!! Honestly, if you are even remotely interested in using essential oils, but the price, your budget, or your skepticism is holding you back, I recommend you at least try the Lavender and Peppermint (from Young Living, the only one rated for safe consumption). Even if you decide you don't care for the whole parade and want of the bandwagon, you will have something to keep all of your drawers and closets and clothes smelling superb and something to flavor teas, coffeecakes, cookies, Christmas dishes, etc. So really there is no loss to buying the oils, only gain, because that is really all to experience.

On Day #6 Tim and I also took a pill capsule each with a drop of Lavender, a drop of Peppermint, and a drop of Thieves. This time I managed to spill less and swallow the pill without as much gagging. Tim's face was laugh out loud funny, though. (I know you are reading this, dear, and don't wish me to proclaim stories of you so loudly, but I'm just appreciating and savoring the joy God has placed in my life through you. I'm laughing with you, not at you!:) ) I also smeared Peppermint and Lavender on the kids to help them combat the day's pollen showers, which I think reached at least a ½ in. here in the south.

Our nightly oils consisted of what I mentioned in yesterday's post. I'm tired, and it is almost time to get my little yako and dot to bed, so don't hate me for not typing it all down again.

Day #7: I slept well, once I finally got to sleep (still trying to fix that with oils) and it was late morning when I got up, but apparently my sinuses woke up long before me and were already aching by the time I put on my morning Peppermint. Lavender soon followed and I got some relief. I knew it was to be a day of grocery shopping, and I gathered my stamina together slowly, so it was noon before I got my pill with Lavender and Peppermint down. I don't remember if Tim had a pill or not. Some days just run together for me. I do remember putting Lavender and Peppermint on the kids before we left. The biggest thing I do remember is finally remembering to put a Lavender and Peppermint bottle in my cosmetic pouch in my purse. I'm certainly glad too, because I used them once on myself and once on the kids while we were gone. Praise God for bringing at least some things back to my remembrance!

I also tried Peppermint in my Lemon water for the first time. It was a little too strong at first and I was able to fill up the glass again without having to add any more EO to it. I got Tim to try it(the 2nd glass) while we were in the car and unlike normal, he actually took more than one sip of it! It made me chuckle, because most of the time when I ask him to taste something, he either hates it or tolerates it. Rarely is it something he wants more of. I'm very grateful for the little victories because they make joy a spontaneous part of our day.

On a side note, we bought almost exclusively healthy foods: Two different kinds of trail mix, dark chocolate pomegranate seeds, mangoes, kiwis, salad, organic orange juice, organic milk (I've not made the switch to non-dairy milks yet so no preaching!), dried snapeas (like chips), and veggie straws (like chips), hummus, etc. However, we did indulge on some cookies and costco's poundcake. Not everyone is perfect! And I don't regret it. Although I do regret one part of my day, the part about sodas I said I would mention later.

We had one last place to stop and we were all exhausted, though Peppermint had gotten us that far, and we all needed something to drink, our water all gone. Trying to let it be a treat (his love language is giving), my husband brought me a coke and the kids' dr. pepper. It was the coldest, strongest coke I've had in months. Just the way I love them. That make you choke, and bubbles burn all the way up your nose? Yeah, that's my idea of a good coke. I decided it would be my coke for the week, but even then, I've grown unaccustomed to them and didn't finish the 20oz, but put it in the fridge when we got home for me to have the next day. The rest I had with my breakfast of the lovely costco pound cake(sliced, buttered and toasted in the oven until all the butter melts and you are left with a crunchy outside and a soft, buttery inside. And like a bazillion calories I'm sure!). Well last night was tolerable, especially using my reflexology socks to massage Valor onto both of my feet for my aching shoulders and neck. However, this morning I felt like I had a rock sitting in my stomach. Even a salad for lunch didn't sit well on my stomach, it was in such turmoil. Even though I've gotten 3 other members of this family to put Peppermint on their stomachs for tummy troubles, I didn't even think about putting it on my own stomach until after lunch. It helped tremendously within minutes! It also helped cut the brain fog I experience a lot. Although I will admit, today (day#8) I've had the least amount of energy of any of the previous days using EO, but I still got two loads of clothes washed, did some schoolwork with M & J, fixed my own meals, and got some computer work done. Not bad, considering how much energy I've lacked on a regular basis before EO. The lead in my stomach returned around dinner time, along with some nausea, so I rubbed more Peppermint on my stomach area, as well as the reflex points for the digestive system on my feet. Once again, within minutes I had relief, and a warming sensation through my belly that finally got my cold body warm. I can tell you one thing for certainty, after this day! I will have second thoughts about drinking another coke anytime soon!  

Day 5 of Living with Essential Oils-The Art of Ingesting Lavender

Day 5 was a horrific day for me concerning my allergies. This pollen is so bad! Tim and I had a meeting to go to at 11am, but my sinuses were not wanting to give me a moment's peace. When I first woke up I put on Peppermint and Lavender to help, but I was snotting everywhere. So not attractive! Therefore I chose to try ingesting some of the Lavender to give some relief, I was so miserable. It is a wonder I didn't end up spilling half of the bottle on me in my attempts! I'm positively certain there is a really good way that Monique has posted about in www.granolaoils.com, but I didn't have time to refresh my memory on the post before fixing the pill and getting out the door.

I had already made myself some Lemon water, which I have forgotten to mention several times already. The scent is amazing, and the taste is almost non-existent but so refreshing. One day we were out this week and I drank water the whole time, but not lemon water, and just felt like I wasn't getting enough. I rarely guzzle, but my thirst was just not quenched. Then when we got home, I hurried over to a glass of lemon water, guzzled,  and finally felt refreshed! It is certainly addictive, but it is not something I have found goes with just any kind of food, either, so I'm still drinking unflavored water and tea. I'm also down to just one 16oz. Coke a week. I used to drink at least one a day, so this has been an amazing accomplishment for me. We've also managed to get the kids down to sodas every other day or more, from the once a day and only before 6pm rule we used to have. Tim and Grandma are still a work in progress, and have tried to substitute as much tea as possible, however we are still trying to figure out what sweetener is right for us and doesn't have the horrible side effects of aspartame, etc but that also doesn't cause a powdery, bitter aftertaste.

Now what was I talking about? Oh, yeah. Sorry, this post might should be sub-headed “Caution: Prone to Rabbit Trails”. Anyway, I took my first Lavender pill with a drink of my Lemon water, and....(pause for a moment of suspense)....nearly gagged and at least grimaced an awful face. I don't know what I was expecting, since I've never tasted Lavender before. I'm sure others don't taste the oil, but then they probably don't coat the outside of the capsule in their attempts to get the oil actually inside the pill! I have to take a lot of pills a day because of the multitude of my afflictions (that sounds much grander than saying I'm disabled), so I'm used to swallowing pills and have been rather proud of the fact that I can take all 9 of my nightly pills in one swallow (except sometimes for those annoying two that won't go down and dissolve on my tongue and taste nasty and only chocolate can make the taste go away). But this pill capsule was just different. Its hard to explain. However, I got over it and went on, it was no "the sky is falling" moment.

I told Tim what I had done, and he teased me about taking care of myself only and not offering to make him one. I could have reminded him how often in the past week I've rubbed his feet, but I choose to think I'm made of nicer stuff and fluff, therefore I made him up one. Since his chief complaint was congestion and not the sneezing and snotting I was doing, I put Peppermint in his capsule, along with Lemon to help with clarity and get rid of his “belly fat”(his words, not mine). Plus I put one other thing in it, but I don't remember what it was. At least I know whatever it was, was only for his benefit and was not something that could do him harm! Perhaps these oils should say on the bottle under “neat, diffuse”, etc “Rachel-proof”. I'm certain that would make everyone in my family feel safer to know I can't accidentally poison them, haha.

The look on Tim's face when he took his oil covered, oil filled capsule was priceless. He has such an expressive face and jokes about, that it is quite entertaining to see what expressions he can come up with. The Peppermint coating the outside burned him a little, but it probably opened those sinuses! On the way to our meeting, he remarked how he was going to be burping up Peppermint for the rest of the day, but he was okay with that, because at least his breath would smell good! I informed him that was much better than my predicament because burping up Lavender is just weird.

By the time of our meeting, I had gone through at least ten tissues since waking up in the morning, accompanied by multiple sneezes. However, at the end of the meeting I was fine. I was clear without the Claritin and no longer sneezing. Since chemo effected my life last year, I have had a symptom that plagued my mother during her own battle with cancer: a constant runny nose. When I eat, especially, it pours like a faucet. So, I always have to have tissue with me. I have them tucked in places for emergencies, because sometimes I have no warning or time to find anything before it starts dripping. Once again, so not attractive!!!!! If you've ever seen the commercial where the guy is paying for ice cream for his daughter and himself and he hands the guy a bill crumpled up with a used tissue and it mentions squirreling tissues, that perfectly sums me up. Which is weird, because I'm one of the OCD people who doesn't like things out on the countertops and wants everything in its own pocket inside her purse, and compulsively cleans off the table of the junk that gets piled on it. We joke about the spirit of Minimaw taking over since my mother's passing, so I'm going to attribute this one to her for my own peace of mind. Therefore, no telling me any different!

Shoot, I've seemed to have lost my place again. The Caution sign is blinking and I'm rambling off down another rabbit trail. Soon I'll start singing Little Bunny Foo-Foo. (I'm not totally mental, I promise) When Tim sees how clear I am and how I'm no longer red-eyed and red-nosed, he asks why I didn't put any Lavender in his, because he's not as over his allergies as me yet. Of course, we banter and I stick out my tongue at him at some point. Our marriage is always fun and full of laughs. Otherwise, it'd be very depressing and we'd hate each other; the reason of avoiding and depression and simply because there is a lot to laugh at.

The rest of the day went well, and I still had more sustaining energy than the short energy bursts I've generally had these past two years. I know the oils are effecting me this way, because a week and a half ago, I would not have been able to go five days without at least three of nothing but sleep.

Our night time oils were:

Grandma- Lavender on her neck for sleep and rest. Peppermint on her stomach and the corresponding spot on her foot for some stomach discomfort she was having. Purification on her chest for ease of breathing, because she is prone to bronchitis and has asthma. Valor on her feet for sleep apnea. Then Peace and Calming on the back of her neck. So far, her favorite is the Purification, with Peppermint coming in second.

Tim-Lavender on the neck and behind the ears for sleep and rest. Valor on his feet for sleep apnea and I did rub it on his feet myself! His feet are a whole lot softer and isn't like rubbing sandpaper as it was just a week ago.

The kids-Lavender on the neck and behind the ears for rest and sleeping.

Me-Valor on my feet and on my hip joints which were aching painfully from our day out walking about. I put Lavender on my pillow and behind my ears. However, I was reading a good book and couldn't go to sleep even after my set time of reading had elapsed and my face was burning which was also keeping me awake. So, I got up and put some cold cream on my face, some Peace and Calming on my shoulders and some Purification on my chest. I have to admit that I really do not like the smell of Peace and Calming. It reminds me of the smell in some elderly relative's house where they have a displayed arrangement of some waxy, fake flowers from back in the fifties. It smells almost musty to me, or moldy. But that is just my opinion. 

I then gave myself fifteen more minutes to try to go to sleep and if I was still awake I was going to go back to reading my book. Apparently, those oils, even the stinky one, worked because the next thing I knew it was 9am and I was being asked if I wanted to watch Perry Mason just in case he didn't win his case this time. 

Day 4 of Using Essential Oils-Teeth Grinding Relief

Sunday came with me getting up before 9am and staying perked up by putting some Peppermint behind both ears. I'm getting to where I love the smell! I used to think chewing gum when I thought peppermint, but no longer. I think breathing clearly, feeling refreshed, alive, a clear summer day and Thin Mint cookies. Which makes me want chocolate. If they ever make an essential oil from chocolate, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble! Haha

Before we left for church, I put some Lavender on to help with allergies. On the way to church I saw a dirt devil made entirely from pollen. That was scary! To think pollen is so thick around here, it can form its own cloud when the wind whips it up?!

My friend Josie that introduced me to Young Living Essential Oils was kind enough to give us some of the vegetable based capsules before we left church, until I can get some ordered. I'll post about how we used them for tomorrow's post. I didn't have need of them on Sunday, though. I felt that between the Lavender and Peppermint for allergies I was doing well. I also had a lot of energy yesterday, which was quite nice. For the past three Sundays, I have actually made it to church. That is the greatest number in a row since before I started chemo last January! Be thankful for the little things, people! Because I promise you, when all is stripped away, it is the simple things you miss.

John had a carpet burn on his side and a blister on his foot, so we've been putting Lavender on that, too. He was complaining of the pain, but said after each application that it feels better. I also put some Thieves on the blister to keep it from becoming infected. He is getting so used to the oils now, that he doesn't ask for pain medicine like he used to, but comes to me to see what oils I'm going to put on him to fix his problem. I'm loving that my almost 6 year old is developing this kind of habit! I'm a happy mom, I'm a happy mom!

Our bedtime routine was Lavender for each person, behind the ears to help promote sleep. The 3 grown-ups used Valor on the bottoms of our feet-me for arthritis and joint pain, the other two for sleep apnea. I also put Valor on my jaw to help me with TMJ and teeth grinding. In the three nights previous, I have not woken up or been woken up by Tim because of grinding my teeth or gritting them so tight my jaw pops. I don't think I've ever gone a three consecutive nights before!

Everyone slept well, thank goodness. However, we will have to figure out what my MIL needs in addition to what we've been doing, to help with her sleep apnea. Mercy said she could hear her snoring from the den, even though she had used Valor. Maybe my new friends over at The Lemon Drop Lounge facebook group can help me out with that one.

Day 3 of Living With Essential Oils-Stinky Dog Relief

It has taken me a long time to get this post written today, partly because I had a brain funk and couldn't remember much of yesterday morning. Once again, a perk of having 3 kinds of chemo and a whole bunch of radiation in the past year! The other part was because it is Sunday, and I had entertained the idea of not even posting and taking a break for the Lord's day, but then I decided we are no longer bound by the law prohibiting activities on Sundays and I'm trying to tell the world about the amazing, potent life He has put in plants just for our use to promote an overall well-being. (Please do not post any comments about how wrong I am for posting on my blog on a Sunday! You and I both have better things to do!)

I started out the morning on Saturday with a dab of Lavender behind each ear to help with allergies. I have a severe allergy to oak pollen and this time of year is usually very difficult for me, with the use of so much tissue that we buy Puffs in bulk at Costco. My goal for the day had been to spend time sewing to finish up projects I had started in the past, oh, five years and never finished. However, we discovered our dog, a ten year old Rhodesian Ridgeback/Alaskan Husky mix, had peed on a rug in our bathroom. So our whole bedroom and bathroom smelled like gross urine. Therefore my goal became cleaning the bathroom. Thieves to the rescue!!!!! I love Thieves!

The story is, for those of you who don't know(skip this paragraph if you do), in some long ago time during some long ago plague some thieves were robbing the homes of people who had died of the plague. Yet, these thieves were not getting sick themselves, unlike every one else in the population. Finally, some of these thieves were caught and, um, encouraged shall we say, under the influence of most persuasive torture to reveal the secret to the prevention of their demise. What was revealed was a combination of essential oils they rubbed over their bodies before entering the homes and what we now know as germs could not penetrate the essential oils. This blend became know as Thieves.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming-So to combat the toxic fumes wafting from my bathroom, I grab my handy dandy superhero arsenal, otherwise known as a mop and bathroom cleaner. Ah, but this is not any normal cleaner, it is a product of White House Label, therefore it is made from secret ingredients I can't divulge, but assure you are probably all located within your home. The point is, I knew (since I'm the one who creates the products) that the ingredients in my cleaner were not about to explode when I added the Thieves. For the rest of you, do not try this at home to any random cleaner. I added three drops of Thieves to my 3/4 full bottle of cleaner and set about cleaning every surface. When that was done, I poured some on the floor and mopped away. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Thieves blend also lends one energy, because normally I would've been prostrate on the bed after wiping down the bathroom surfaces, before I ever even got to the floor. Another words, please don't look at my floors whenever you come over to my house for your own peace of mind. I am ashamed to say the vacuum my floors see most often is my dog.

So, I mop away and take special care over the areas where there was dog pee. The main area was right in front of our bathroom cabinets where we normally stand to get ready, brush our teeth, etc. Suddenly, I noticed a color change to the linoleum that is supposed to look like tile-but-isn't-really-tile-its-just-as-cold-as-tile-in-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning. This required closer inspection; to my knees I went. Scrubbing a little more, I discovered the "tile" was changing color. Hhmm. Getting a cleaning brush, I scrubbed harder and noticed that the space between the "tiles" that is supposed to look like "grout" was becoming white again! I didn't even know it wasn't white! This makes me question what else is grimy nasty and I'm not noticing. However, as a friend loves to tell about me, I clean nooks and crannies and baseboards and did so even with a toothbrush while 7 months pregnant. So my "not notice" and your "not notice" could be different. Either that, or I just scared you off from ever coming to my house for fear of what grime may lurk, haha!

I was so impressed I even had Tim come look. I think he was impressed. That, or he was indulging me so he could go back outside to finish cutting the grass. I choose to think the first and not the latter. Meanwhile, Tim's mother, Grandma, was washing dishes in the sink with a drop of Thieves in the soapy water. Lots of good smells were beginning to permeate our house which of course made me feel accomplished and satisfied. That is, until I walked back in our room and smelled something positively nasty! I'm thinking, surely this is not still the blasted floor smelling like that! But the smell is not coming from the bathroom, it is coming from the pet bed near the bathroom door with one beautiful, gorgeously large, horribly stinking dog laying on it. It smelled like fish had landed in our bedroom and died, like, oh, three months ago and rotted there. I have no idea why she smelled like this. We've noticed this smell only once before and it wasn't as bad. Now, Belle and her bed stink, which is even covering up the smell of my nice, clean bathroom three steps away.

Tim offers to give the dog a bath if I cook dinner, but by now I'm worn out and know I can't lift a pan full of ground beef. I was getting the better end of the deal, I admit, because I've given that dog maybe three baths in her ten years and I am not going to do it again. She is slightly shorter than a Great Dane with a breastbone Ridgebacks used in Africa to ram into lions for hunting with their master. Plus she has paws that are bigger than my five year old's palm. So Tim goes to cook dinner while I try to figure out how to get this dog smelling less like dead fish meets dog and more like something we can stand to be in the same room with.

Thieves to the rescue! It took three drops by the time we went to bed, but the smell is gone and she doesn't make us gag just to be near her. Maybe in the near future the dog will actually get a bath, but that, I'm sure, is for another post.

Bedtime routine consisted of Grandma putting Valor diluted with olive oil on her feet for sleep apnea and Lavender behind her ears for sleep. She might have put something else on, I'm not certain. Then Mercy came to me with a bottle and showed me she could put the Lavender on herself. A few seconds later, I realized it was Purification she had put on not Lavender so I called her back over for her to do that. I don't remember if John ever did come get his Lavender. Another brain funk.

I was so tired by this point, I could hardly think. Plus my whole back hurt. I have spinal stenosis and arthritis in my back, so it is common for my back to spasm and ache and cause twinges in other places. This is where my hero came dashing in to the story to play the part of Prince Charming. Oddly, he looked a lot like my husband. Whoever this not-masked man was, I was humbly lay before him and let him rub Valor diluted with olive oil all down my spine and across my shoulders. I might or might not have flirted with him, but that is no tale for you to be told. Within five minutes my back was soothingly warm, not uncomfortably so, and my pain had eased considerably. Both Tim and I used the Valor on the bottoms of our feet, and I noticed that my feet were softer, too. Tim did his own feet this time (God has infinite grace and mercy for his humble servants!) so I don't know if his were still softer or not. I also put Valor along my jaw for the TMJ I have, with Lavender behind my ears for sleep and relaxation. The Valor is supposed to help with sleep, mainly sleep apnea, but it is to help me with the arthritis and joint pain I have from being a survivor of bacterial spinal meningitis.

According to the morning census: Tim did not snore, but he did do this snuffling sound a couple of times. Not what I would call snoring, though. I slept well and even woke up before 9am which is far earlier than the common 11am during the week. If your body has been through what mine has, then you will understand. If you haven't don't judge, because I promise my judgement of myself is far harsher than yours. And let's both be thankful God's grace covers everything. The kids once again slept in the Grandma's room, but Mercy had trouble going to sleep and finally went back to her bed at 3am and slept till 9am. She has trouble going to sleep quite often, but the past two nights with Lavender have helped so I don't know if the Purification had that effect or if she had consumed too much sugar or watched too much tv; we may never know. John slept "fine" according to him. He hasn't developed the use of too many adjectives or adverbs yet, but he is only five. Grandma says she didn't sleep well at all, and the kids said she snored some. She didn't know why, though.

Just goes to show this isn't magic: poof! wave an essential oil under your nose and all will be well! No, it is more than that. And we are still learning. It is only Day 3 after all, but thank goodness Day 4 will not have a stinky dog in it!

Living with Essential Oils-Day 2

Yesterday was Day 2 of our new adventure, and it was another success! I used Frankincense on the back of mine and Tim's neck to help with concentration, since the two of us have a tendency to get distracted by a multitude of other projects when we are supposed to be working on one particular one. I'm sure you are shocked by this revelation!

Tim and Mercy both ended up with some stomach discomfort, so I put Peppermint oil(diluted in olive oil) on their stomachs. Mercy claims she hates Peppermint, so I didn't tell her what I was putting on her. She didn't complain and I told her she smelled like Tic Tac cookies (what she calls Girl Scouts Thin Mint cookies, one of her favs) and she loved that. Within minutes she was fine! Plus she smelled good! She has chronic stomach issues so I was very pleased she got some relief.

We were going to watch one of my nieces in the lead role of Snow White at her school play, which I was super excited about. She is going to graduate next month, so it wasn't like I was going to get to see her do another play and I was determined to go. I used Peppermint to help give me some energy, which is something I lack on a regular basis thanks to the lingering effects of cancer treatment. Right before we left, I put Lavender on my temples to help with any headaches. I'm prone to migraines, especially in places where there are flashing or glaring lights, as a stage is sure to have. As I was putting the bottle back in my little box, I had the feeling I should put the Lavender in my purse just in case, but did I listen to that still, small voice? Of course not! I'm too stubborn for that! What can I say? I'm a work in progress. Some work is just taking God a little longer to carry out on this imperfect, mule-headed person writing this.

After our car tries to overheat on the way, we pray through it and arrive just two minutes late, a major feat accomplished, considering there was 5 of us and we had travel almost 2 hours! I, the crazy aunt, try to video the play with my tablet I'm not accustomed to, and I rudely blinded the people in front of me in my excitement. Of course, I wasn't aware of this in the midst of my crazy aunt pride, until the lady in front of me moved. I got the clue then, and just turned it off since I didn't know how to turn the flash off like a gentleman up at the front using his tablet. I think I need to find out which oil is to alleviate stupidity. It probably has my name on the bottle, haha!

Of course my niece was stupendous! Wish I could claim I had something to do with it, but the only thing she inherited from me was her inability to grasp the tedious, unnecessarily intricate forms of math(there are so many!) and her tendency to not fully comprehend a situation until something ridiculous happens(such as my gaffe with the tablet and flash), giving the fam a wonderful story to tell for years to come. But, I was having trouble enjoying the traits God blessed her with, like humor and a sense of drama, because my head was starting to pound. On the drive there the sun was flashing me between the trees with all it setting brilliance, starting the tension in my temples. Then the flashing stage lights set the headache on a steady course to turn into something fierce. Of course, I was ruing the moment I didn't put the Lavender in my purse! Thank goodness I had a prescription pain killer with me! But be assured I learned my lesson: Lavender must travel!

When we returned home, tired and in good spirits, we lined up in front of the little box holding all of the oils, like little ducks. Mercy and John got Lavender behind the ears to help them rest and sleep. Grandma and I got Valor diluted with olive oil rubbed onto the bottoms of our feet to help with her sleep apnea, my joint pain and overall rest. I also put a dab of Lavender on my temples and a bit of Valor on my jaw to help with my TMJ and teeth grinding at night. Tim decided to be a rebel and forgo the Valor for his sleep apnea, because I, his precious, adoring, loving wife didn't want to rub the diluted Valor on his feet a 2nd night in a row. Did I mention I don't like touching other people's feet?!

He claimed that if he began to snore for me to wake him up and rub the Valor on him and if he stopped snoring we would know the Valor worked. In true love's fashion, I agreed because I was irritated the man wouldn't rub the oil own his own two feet! He went on to sleep and I continued to read a mystery novel set in the 1890's, trying to wind down for sleeping myself. However, after my reading kept being interrupted by the punctuations of a boat motor next to me and I reached the point where I simply had to know whodunnit, I grabbed the Valor and attacked Tim's feet with verocity to bring myself some peace. I'm humble, what can I tell you?! One surprising point was how soft Tim's feet were in comparison to just the night before. I have no idea if that was just coincidence or a result of the oil. That part will have to be further investigated. Within ten minutes of Tim falling back asleep, he ceased snoring. And didn't snore the rest of the night!!!!!! I'm a believer!

Our two kids slept in their Grandma's room last night, something they frequently do on the weekends. She is a notorious snorer that puts most men to shame and we tease her constantly about it. Mercy even sometimes sleeps with earplugs when in Grandma's room, or the kids might even return to their own beds if the snoring is too bad. However, both kids told us separately that Grandma did not snore! It's a miracle people!!!! I have never known the sweet, loving, caring lady to go a night without snoring in the fifteen years I've known her! The proof is not in the pudding, people, but in the silence of the night in the White house! Miracles do exist!

Our New Adventure with Essential Oils-Day 1

Since wrapping up all of my treatment for breast cancer in late November of 2012, our family has been focusing on trying to live and eat better. I don't know what scientifically caused my body to generate cancer cells, even though I am the fourth generation in my family to have cancer. However, I do know that I need to take better care of the only body I will have here on this earth, because unfortunately there is not a trade-in policy or warranty on the ones God gives us! Nor can I get away from this body He gave me to take a vacation, so I must treat it with care if I want it to last!

That being said, we made some changes in our eating habits. We were already using more friendly cleaners and laundry detergent, and trying to be more conscientious of where our food was coming from. Then in January my mother-in-law was diagnosed with type II diabetes, which meant learning a whole new way of eating, cooking, and well, living. It also meant trying to find something we could all eat, enjoy, and get the necessary nutrition out of in our family of 5-which includes 2 picky eaters(my husband and son), 2 thin children (same son and my daughter), a type II diabetic grandmother who loves food(my MIL#1), and me(the post-cancer, underweight all of my life until radiation started, and lover of just about any food).

If that in of itself wasn't enough to make most people run away screaming in terror, we each have our own share of physical ailments. Trust me people, I could write several books on the adventures we've had! To just give a sampling, and explain why the discovery of what essential oils could do has been monumental, I will give just three things per person that our family members suffer from:
Tim                      Rachel(me)               Mercy(our daughter)          John(our son)        Diana(aka Grandma)
asthma                 breast cancer             allergy to cats                dust & pollen allergy            asthma
3 knee surgeries    fibromyalgia              allergy to red dye#40     allergy to red dye#40   chronic bronchitis
3 back surgeries    psoriatic arthritis       nosebleeds                     sinus issues                  type II diabetic

So needless to say, everyone in our family has been on several medications for quite a while now, and the two most prevalent issues we deal with are headaches and sleep problems (insomnia, sleep apnea, etc). Of course, all prescription medications have side effects, so we end up taking meds for the side effects and those cause side effects, and they lend to other diseases, syndromes, etc. Its a vicious cycle people! And I wanted off the merry-go-round!!!!!

I love how God hears the cry of His people, and I bet He was thinking mine was getting a tad bit loud. So He sends along a friend I go to church with, Josie Jones, who tells me in passing about these oils she is using in her family, especially for her daughter's newly diagnosed type I diabetes. I'm intrigued. A little time passes, where I'm desperately learning how to cook and prepare meals for a diabetic. Then my cousin's little boy ends up in the hospital with RSV and an ear infection. I see Josie mention to my cousin's wife about these oils again. Now I'm very intrigued, because we've been swapping sinus infections around in our house like its a bowl of delicious, buttery popcorn. So I tell Josie I want to know more. She hooks me up with the facebook group The Lemon Drop Lounge (formerly Granola Oils) and I start learning all kinds of stuff! I even find friends in the group that I've known for six+ years. God knows how I love irony, obviously since He made me!!!!

I am no stranger to essential oils. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had a business called White House Label where I made organic cleaning products, organic lotions, and other organic skin products using essential oils. However, I didn't know anything about using the oils topically or internally, so a whole new world opened up for me! I felt like Dorothy walking out of the crashed house into a technicolor world. In one day I read ever blog post on the Granola Convert blog and every post on the facebook page, plus I checked out Young Living's website. Oh yeah, I was hooked, baby! We decided to go for it and order the Essential Oils starter kit (thank God for timely tax refunds!) and take our family on a whole new journey. It also helped that I already had some essential oils on hand, although they weren't the quality of Young Living's nor were they ingestible. But I was the one who'd just taken hold of that lovely bowl full of buttery popcorn and had a sinus infection that just wouldn't let go, even with OTC meds. So lavender and eucalyptus became my constant companions for three days. I saw a noticeable difference, and not so calmly awaited the arrival of my Young Living essential oils packet.

Well yesterday, people, Christmas came to my house in the shape of a rectangular box! I was so excited! And chased my husband around the house when I learned he had already brought it in and opened it without telling me it had come. He's sneaky. Don't trust him unless you have something in hand to throw at him, lol! Anyway, Monique had also just posted in the Lemon Drop Lounge a pdf file telling 110 uses for the 7 oils that came in the starter kit. In true OCD fashion, I picked a certain color for each member of the family, plus a separate color for household and sleep, then I set about highlighting each of the uses that pertained to specific members of our house. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm slightly crazy, but unlike most people I have a legit excuse, called chemo brain. If you refer to any time before chemo(pre 01/12) then I'll come up with another viable excuse, I assure you.

I digress, another one of my famous attributes. So last night we were all eager to try our oils. First Tim was the guinea pig, and rubbed peppermint oil, diluted with olive oil, over his stomach. I did the same. We've both been having digestive troubles this week, so it was important to start there. Immediately our sinuses were opened, too. Finally I could breathe! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! In about thirty minutes we could taste the peppermint on our tongues. Isn't the human body amazing? Then we tried the lemon oil in a glass of water. The smell is amazing, but the taste is nowhere near as strong as I assumed it would be in relation to the smell. But once it leaves your tongue, there is a surprising clean, fresh feeling left behind. It is also warm and soothing as it travels down the throat. Amazing!

At bedtime, Grandma came first to get whatever was deemed necessary for her to get a good night's rest. She used 2 drops of Peace & Calming on the bottoms of her feet, and rubbed the remainder on her shoulders. She didn't care for the smell, I believe her actual words were, "Ewww! It STINKS!". Haha, gotta love that lady! She also used a drop of Purification on the side of her neck, because she has still been having a sore throat from her bought with the bowl of buttery, tasty popcorn called sinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma. She also put a drop of Lavender on her pillow, which of course sent the children clamoring for some on their pillows, since our daughter claims she is an insomniac, although I tend to think she just loves to read as much as her mother and looks for any excuse that will do. So they each had a drop of Lavender on their pillows.

Tim has sleep apnea and spends most of each night snoring. Sigh, I remember a time when neither of us ever had an incidental snore, much less chronic snoring. Ah, those were the days! He also has a lot of pain in his knees from an injury when Mercy was a year old, and for which he has had 3 knee surgeries, causing a lot of stress on his other knee to make up for the strain. So, like a loving, kind, adorable wife I pretend that someday I will be, I rubbed olive oil with Valor on both of his knees and both of his feet. I even put socks on his feet for him! Aren't you impressed? If you know me, you should be. I don't like touching other people's feet. Like, ick!

So, finally it was my turn. I used the Valor for my own feet and put on socks to sleep in (*shudder*). I swear my feet are clausterphobic and don't like things encasing them where no air can be reached! I rubbed the remainder on my joints and along my jaw line. Plus I put some Lavender on my temples and my pillow to help me relax into sleep, which is always hard to do for me, because my brain is wired and coming up with wonderful creations which of course I've forgotten by the time I wake up the next morning.

The results, you ask? Oh my, they were better than I hoped for! It did take me a little while to go to sleep, but that is mainly because I kept listening to know if Tim was snoring or not. Funny, I know, but I am that way. But I promise you the man DID NOT SNORE all night long! He snorted lightly once when turning over and near 5am he started heavy breathing like he does right before he begins snoring, but then he turned his head slightly and stopped that. This is the first night in many, many months he has not snored without the use of his CPAP machine. We want to find out if he can put any of the oils in that, but with it being plastic, I don't know. I slept well, enjoying the warm, tingly feet even if they were wearing socks, which I did not yank off like I do most nights I try to sleep with socks on. I also woke up at a reasonable hour for me and used a touch of Peppermint to help me wake up. Grandma slept well and took Lemon to work with her for her water and tea, as well as some Peppermint on a handkerchief for her office. I assume by all of the joyous sounds coming from children today, that they slept well. I have to admit I am looking forward to trying the oil on them that was mentioned for "overactive children"...

Therefore I think it safe to say we are quite pleased with the result of Day 1 of our new adventure. If you want to know any more about the essential oils, then message me on facebook or email me @ spiceyourspace@yahoo.com. Hope you enjoyed reading an exerpt from our crazy life!