A Birthday Blessing for my MomMy Mother is 92 years old today. She was born in 1928, just a year before Anne Frank, Martin Luther King, and Barbara Walters. The four of them could not have lived more differently.
Mother grew up on a farm in the panhandle of a Oklahoma. She told stories about riding her donkey to school and wearing dresses made from flour sacks. The Depression was full blown and money was scarce. Mother was smart; brilliant, actually. People say she was like her father. Along with farming, he kept the books at the cattle sale, doing all the math effortlessly in his head. Mother’s aunt Glenna Maude saw her abilities and offered to pay for her to go to college. I wonder how her life might have changed if she had accepted that offer? Instead, she reluctantly made a career as a medical insurance clerk, eventually becoming the manager of the clinic. I remember the day Toby came to the door with some papers. I don’t know what Toby’s job was -maybe just an errand boy- but the picture of him at our door has stuck in my mind all these years. Mother cried a little as she signed the papers. They must have been the agreement for her to return to work, because soon she was splitting her time between housekeeping and typewriting. Mother would rather have been home full time, but she went to work “Mondays, Wednesdays, and a Friday afternoons.” Her office was only a few minutes from home and she came home to make lunch every day. No sandwich ever sat on our table. All meals were hot, right off the stove, and usually included meat, potatoes, a vegetable, fruit, and dessert. Mom could cook it, eat it, clean it up, and dash back to work, all within the allotted hour. Three meals a day were served from Mom’s kitchen. All hot, all delicious. Weekends were for baking, cleaning, and getting ready for church. There were typically several pies, usually a cake, and always her famous cinnamon rolls. Mom allowed me to eat pie for breakfast since I was (happily) allergic to eggs. I still think the best breakfast is apple pie! Mom’s life was complicated with almost constant pain. All the medications she knew from her work were ineffective for her. The doctors who employed her tried everything they knew, then sent her to the best specialists they could find, but there were no answers. Finally, a pain specialist found a medication that keeps her brain from receiving the signal of the pain that is still raging in her body. I am not brilliant like my mother. My career is far less stressful than hers. My table is seldom set with delicious, hot meals. I am blessed with good health, free of pain. By comparison my life is so, so easy. I think seeing my mother in agonizing pain, failed by modern medicine, has made me eager to find effective alternatives. Medicine is wonderful when it is necessary and when it works, but I think of it as a last resort, not a first option. I love spraying ON GUARD essential oil in Mom’s room, chasing away the germ soup that is always stewing in her facility. When her neck is stiff and sore I have a quick solution; DEEP BLUE RUB. When she is fretful I offer her my “perfume,” a blend of oils called SERENITY created specifically to calm and relax. I can’t make her well. I can’t give back the years she suffered and toiled through the pain. But I can offer little bits of comfort and that is my great joy. Mother no longer knows me but I know her, and I am grateful for every memory of our life together. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet Mother. I love you.
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Stress is our constant companion. Our unwelcome guest. Uninvited, unwanted, but ever present. Stress makes cortisol levels soar which in turn creates weight issues. We feel cranky and tired, unable to be our best selves at home or at work. Why are we so stressed?Maybe we should first determine why we are stressed.
Look for solutions in the list below. Lavender promotes calmnessLAVENDER is perhaps the best known oil for promoting calm where stress has invaded. It has been called the “gateway oil” because it has led so many people to success with other oils. Lavender is sometimes called the “Swiss Army Knife Of Oils” because it can be used for everything from sleep issues to mending wounds. Maybe Lavender is helpful for stress because it gives such confidence in dealing with whatever the day may bring. Balance provides a sense of groundingBALANCE is a blend created by doTERRA for the specific purpose of providing a sense of well-being and grounding. The fresh, woodsy scent mixes well with LAVENDER, CITRUS BLISS, BREATHE and others. It is suggested that we might start each day with a drop of Balance on the big toe pads to help provide tranquility throughout the day. Serenity brings rest and calmingSERENITY is a warm, floral, herbal blend which was created to lessen the feelings of tension and restlessness. Lack of deep, restful sleep is epidemic in our world, and Serenity can provide a natural solution to that problem. When anxiety enters the daytime hours, just inhale Serenity deeply and let it lead you back to a calm, peaceful place. For extra benefit, add SERENITY GEL TABS for stressful days and sleepless nights. Vetiver promotes calmness with an earthy scentVETIVER is high in sesquiterpenes, known to promote calm. Studies have shown that simply inhaling VETIVER has improved focus and concentration in children who are restless and unable to remain engaged. The woody, complex aroma has a grounding effect on the mind and emotions. Cedarwood promotes focus for scattered throughtsCEDARWOOD, like Vetiver, has a warm, woody scent. It has been effective in promoting focus where scattered thoughts prevail. The combination of CEDARWOOD, BALANCE, AND VETIVER is a very helpful diffuser blend when help is needed for calming and concentration. Rosemary is great for cooking as well as stressROSEMARY might be the surprise oil in this line up. Best known as an herb for cooking, Rosemary can also help to reduce nervous tension. Just take off the lid and inhale deeply to find the calming benefits of this oil. According to the Alzheimer’s Association research, diffusing LEMON and ROSEMARY in the mornings helps to activate the mind and refresh the spirit for a better day. Research shows that just inhaling Rosemary can improve the memory by 75%. If we are stressed about forgetfulness and aging, this is the oil we need! Citrus oils, like Wild Orange, are great for mind and bodyWILD ORANGE energizes and uplifts both mind and body. It’s bright, sweet scent cleans the air while it brings joyful peace to those who inhale it. For a boost of energy, diffuse 3 or 4 drops each of WILD ORANGE and PEPPERMINT. It is almost impossible to remain stressed with such a vibrant, happy scent in the air. Clary Calm specifically helps stress related to womenCLARY CALM is a blend made just for women. We females do have extra reasons to experience stress and anxiety. Clary Calm provides a calming effect during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Just apply to the abdomen during those times to lessen discomfort and on the back of the neck, temples, and feet to soothe heightened emotions. This oil is helpful throughout the month to balance our moody moods. Hormonal challenges remain a part of our lives forever, making Clary Calm a helpful oil for women of all ages. Neroli, a cousin of wild orange, relaxes and upliftsNEROLI comes from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. “According to research, Neroli instills relaxation, uplifts moods, reduces feelings of anxiousness, and promotes overall well-being.” (doTERRA product information page) Apply to pulse points throughout the day when stressful feelings arise. The scent of NEROLI is even lovelier when layered with other calming oils such as ROSE and JASMINE. Deep Blue relaxes muscle tensionDEEP BLUE is my personal choice for dealing with stress and anxiety.
When we are stressed our muscles tighten and might even cause head tension. After a long and stressful day the warmth of DEEP BLUE OIL followed by DEEP BLUE RUB is such a welcome sensation. Relaxing the tense muscles helps to relax the busy mind as we prepare for the restful sleep we so desperately need. A new school year is both exciting and challenging. For many children it is also scary. One of my little boys clung to the car door, begging to be rescued from his first few days of kindergarten. Sometimes a new school experience can magnify problems that might otherwise be managed easily. Children might demonstrate emotional outbursts that seem out of character. They might feel sick or anxious or tearful. Parents can be prepared with an arsenal of oils! Diffusing WILD ORANGE in the morning and SERENITY in the evening can help begin and end the school days successfully. The other oils on this list are in roller bottles which are easy to carry along in Mom’s purse or the student’s backpack. Hopefully, these oils will not all be needed every day, but by building the oil supply parents can be ready to deal with the needs of each day. Here are my top 10 picks for a successful new school year:DIGESTZEN TOUCH — for all kinds of tummy problems. Nervous little tummies get queasy. Rigid schedules can be a cause of constipation. Just a swipe of Digestzen Touch on the navel can help. OREGANO TOUCH — for scrapes and scratches. Boo-boos happen. So does infection. Oregano can help chase infection away before it begins. Every Mom and every school nurse should have this oil handy. SERENITY — for a good night’s sleep. This is a great nite-nite oil for diffusing. School days can’t go well if sleep doesn’t go well. WILD ORANGE — for a happy morning. Get the diffuser going before waking the children. The happy orange scent will help the day begin with joyful energy. doTERRA's Kid's Collection
Oils # 5 - 10 were created just for kids, though adults are loving them as well. The bright colored roller bottles make them fun and the great results give children a sense of control over their daily challenges. These oils may be purchased separately or in a kit. Read more about the Kid’s Oils and how to use them here: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/p/doterra-kids-collection Happy new school year, one and all!
My child rearing days are long over, but I can still remember being so tired that I sat in the kitchen floor and told my preschool children they could eat anything they could reach. I guess that was what is now called a “Mom Fail.” I can still feel the all-over ache and pray that my many young mom friends will never feel quite that tired. Here are two big reasons I lived in such constant weariness...
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January 2020
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