Parenting to Give Flight

Parenting to Give Flight
September 2017: 

Today, my thoughts have been full of my oldest son launched to university residence. The night before we drove him to his new home for this school year I went into his room late at night to pray for him. There were piles all around the room in some mysterious order readying for suitcase and duffle bag. But all week, J. had been recovering from camp fatigue and didn't want to think ahead to this new step. 

But there was no dodging it at this late hour. 

So, I stood behind his computer chair and offered to pray for him. He visibly relaxed as my hands found the knots that were so often there on his neck and shoulders. So, I massaged and poured out a prayer for both of us. When I felt free of my thoughts, I reached back into my memory for a song I had written 18 years ago - a song just for J. - for his dedication service at church. I had often sung the first verse after bedtime prayers but hadn't sung it for a long time... but today was time for verse two and three.
 
1. The first time you opened your eyes to the light
The glow seemed to come from inside
The freshness of heaven hung round you
And that day a new song took flight.
 
CHORUS:
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
We were given a gift on that day
We dedicate the care of your heart
To the safety of God's hands today.
 
2. Each day is a wonder filled blessing to me
To watch you grow and I pray
You'll find your own song someday
When you see yourself held in God's eyes.
 
CHORUS
 
3. You'll always have a home in our hearts
But may you find yourself lost in God's plan
Caught up in a vision far greater
Than your imagination could plan.
 
CHORUS
We dedicate the care of your heart 
To the safety of God's hands today.
 
Trusting God's goodness before you opening the way ahead, behind you to soothe any hardships, and in you to pour beauty, patience, gentleness and care into your relating. And trusting God with us to continue to meet needs and be our peace and confidence. 
 
xo
 

Twenty Seconds of Brave

Twenty Seconds of Brave
September, 2017
Today children, teens and young adults head into school, teachers take a deep breath and begin anew, and parents welcome routines in an act of trust. 

Fall rhythms call for some physical and emotional support. 

Before Nate left the house this morning, he rolled the tension roller on his neck muscles. He'd been up late at the Ti-Cat game so he rolled on EnRgee for adrenal support. 

I packed the Stress Away, Valor, and EnRgee personal inhalers for James and sent him with a tension roller for headaches and muscle tightness. 

Here's a few blends you might like for support today. Great places to apply are at the back of the neck on the brain stem, over heart, behind ears, along spine and bottom of big toes.

ADULT TENSION ROLLER: 
10-15 drops Copaiba 
10-15 drops of PanAway 
10-15 drops of Peppermint
Add oils to 10 ml roller bottle. Top with carrier oil. 

These next blends have ratios that are great for kids ages 6-12. Adjust the number of drops up or down depending on age (adults can make up a roller with 2-3 times the amount of oil). 
PEACE ROLLER BOTTLE 
5 drops Lavender
3 drops Frankincense 
2 Lemon
Add oils to 10 ml roller bottle. Top with carrier oil. 

BRAVERY ROLLER BOTTLE 
4 drops Vetiver 
4 drops Valor 
2 drops Frankincense 
Add oils to 10mL roller bottle. Top with carrier oil. 

All we need is twenty seconds of brave to open new opportunities and friendships. Let's oil up, breathe deeply and dive in for just twenty seconds for new beginnings!. 
 

Christmas DIY

Christmas DIY
Creating your own gifts is a great way to demonstrate care. They can be personal, fun and healthy when you give chemical-free nourishing, healing essential oils. They are also easier on tight budgets without compromising quality.
 
Did you know the average woman applies over 300 chemicals a day to her body just through soaps, makeup, shampoo, and hair care products? Eighty of those products are applied before breakfast!
 
The “Healthy Living” app by Environmental Working Group - is an independent resource that can be found at the app store for download.  You can scan the product barcode or type in the ingredient you are wondering about. It will give you a 1-10 dirty rating, along with detailed but easy-to-understand information on ingredients, certification, health impacts & health warnings by governments and independent organizations such as the Lung Association and Cancer research foundation among others.
 
Check the products you are using and gifting to see if they contain ingredients with health warnings. Support wellness for your loved ones.
 
Not all Oils are Equal
Many companies increase profits by spraying crops with pesticides to get a higher yield or using chemical solvents to extract the oils and then dilute them with cheaper 2nd and 3rd distillations or carrier oils. Many essential oils are sold more cheaply because companies cut corners.
 
When shopping for oils, I landed with Young Living because of their seed-to-seal commitment. Young Living oversees every step to ensure the soil, seeds, distillation process and final product are beyond organic and are gently extracted to retain all the therapeutic compounds necessary for wellness support. 


Here are some ideas for transforming essential oils into great gifts. The star indicates that they are part of the Premium Starter Kit oils collection, our best value for getting an awesome lineup of oils and a diffuser in your home that gets you ready for meeting a wide spectrum of needs.

HOME SPA GIFTS!
 

SUGAR SCRUB

 ¼ cup + 2 T Young Living V-6 Oil Complex or Coconut Oil
 5 drops Bergamot or Lemon*
 3 drops Lavender*
2 drops Frankincense*
 2 drops Wintergreen or Peppermint*
 ¾ cup raw sugar
 
 In a small bowl, mix carrier oil with essential oils. Add mixture to raw sugar in a larger bowl and combine thoroughly. Store in an airtight jar. Short wide-mouth canning jars work great!
Top with a ribbon and gift label and you have a gift ready for a teacher, Mom, teen, or Neighbour.
 

BEAUTIFUL NAILS

In a 2oz Dropper Bottle
 3 drops Lavender*
 3 drops Lemon*
 3 drops Rosemary
 3 drops Frankincense* or Geranium
 Top off with Jojoba or Argon Oil and apply to nail bed daily
If you have no time for a DIY but want to give a nourishing body lotion. Young Living just introduced Coconut Lime Body Butter to the Canadian Market.
 
DIY DRY SHAMPOO
 For Light Hair
 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
 3 drops Lavender*
 3 drops Rosemary
 
For Darker Hair
 2 TBSP Arrowroot powder
 2 TBSP Raw cocoa powder
 3 drops Lavender*
 3 drops Rosemary

ESSENTIAL OIL INFUSED BATH SALTS
  • Epsom Salts
  • Stress Away or Lavender* Essential Oil or other skin-friendly fragrant oil
  • In a mixing bowl combine the Epsom salts with Essential oils to make a calming, muscle-nourishing bath soak to pamper mind and body. 
  • For gifting, choose a pretty jar and fill it with this mixture, add a tag or bow and you have an inexpensive but highly valued stress-reducing present.


And a ready-made facial spa in a bottle! 
Satin Facial Scrub Mint - Water-based exfoliant with jojoba oil, mango butter, MSM, aloe, and peppermint essential oil to rejuvenate skin.

Charcoal Mask - all the hydrating and purifying benefits with only the purest ingredients to leave our skin renewed and fresh!
 

Gifts for Getting Active:
 
MUSCLE MIX
Make your custom blend in an empty 15 ml bottle and top it with a roller fitment.
 20 drops Lemongrass
 20 drops Copaiba*
 20 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce*
 20 drops Wintergreen
 20 drops Peppermint*
Top with Carrier Oil and apply generously after shovelling the driveway, or working out.
 
OR USE:
 
MUSCLE RUB #2
 6 drops Frankincense*
 6 drops PanAway*
 6 drops Peppermint*
 6 drops Copaiba*
 6 drops Wintergreen
Stir essential oils into ¼ cup softened coconut oil. For a creamy texture add ¼ cup shea butter.
 
OR USE:
 
TENSION ROLLER
10 drops Pan Away*
10 drops Peppermint*
10 drops Copaiba*
Top with Carrier Oil in a 10 ml Roller bottle.

Non-DIY OPTIONS: 
 
Ortho Ease Massage Oil – designed for a relaxing, soothing massage, a calming blend of vegetable oils with Wintergreen, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Juniper, and Marjoram.
A bottle of Deep Relief with a Roller Top on it works well, too, if you want an awesome ready-made gift.

DIY BUG BITE ROLLER
 8 drops Lavender*
 8 drops German Chamomile
 8 drops Helichrysum
Top up a 10 ml roller with a carrier oil.
 
MAKING WORK DAYS BETTER! 

GEARHEAD HAND SCRUB
 1 cup white sugar
 1/4 cup Young Living's V-6 Oil Complex or Fractionated Coconut oil
 10 drops Lemon Oil*
 10 drops Purification Oil*
 8 oz Mason Jar
Combine all ingredients well and place them in the jar. Add a tablespoon of extra carrier oil to the top to prevent it from drying out. Scrub dirty, greasy or paint-splattered hands and nails with 1-2 tablespoons of the sugar scrub and rinse well.
 
HOMEWORK HELPER ROLLER
 2 Clarity
 4 Grapefruit
 4 Lime
 2 Rosemary
 Mix oils in a 10 ml bottle and top with a carrier oil. Roll on the brain stem and temples.
 
PEACE ROLLER
5 Lavender*
3 Frankincense*
2 Lemon*
Top up with Carrier oil in a 10 ml Roller Bottle for ages 6-12. Double the number of drops for an adult.
 
TEEN BODY WASH
1/2 cup Nature Clean All Purpose Cleaning Lotion or Glycerin Liquid Soap
 1 TSBP Vitamin E Oil (moisturizing - optional) 
 20 Drops of favourite essential oil or blend* (I love Lavender & Thieves together)
 
Add ingredients to an 8 oz glass bottle. Fill the rest slowly with water. Shake before use.
 
HAPPY SKIN ROLLER
10 Frankincense*
10 Lavender*
5 Tea Tree Oil
5 Lemon Oil*
Top up a 10 ml Roller Bottle with  Jojoba oil and witch hazel. Increase jojoba for dry skin and witch hazel for oily skin.


For those on the front lines in serving the public, Young Living has some small size, large impact immune protection.
 
Thieves Spray -is a portable cleaning spray ideal for small surfaces. Thieves Spray may be used on doorknobs, handles, sweaty hockey bags, and any surfaces where germs can spread.
 
Thieves Hand Sanitizer* will keep hands clean without drying skin while on the go. Choose from the large pump size or the personal size. Approved by Health Canada
 
Thieves Essential Oil - help boost immune systems with this favourite essential oil. Dilute it with coconut oil and rub on feet morning or night, and wrists during the day, or diffuse it wherever the air needs some extra purifying.
 
IMMUNE SUPPORT ROLLER
10 Thieves*
10 Lemon*
10 Frankincense* or RC*
Top a 10 ml Roller with Carrier oil for an adult-strength dose of immunity. For 6-12 use ½ the number of drops. Apply to the soles of feet daily; twice a day for an added boost!
 
COLLECT A FEW GREAT YL GIFTS FOR A PERSONALIZED BAG OR BASKET OF GOODNESS: 
 
Satin Mint Facial Scrub - Polish and prep your skin with this naturally derived exfoliator! Made with apricot seed powder, our Satin Facial Scrub gently lifts and removes dry, dead skin cells to reveal bright and even-looking skin. Plus, it has pure Peppermint essential oil for a minty scent and tingly fresh feel. 

Lip Balms - The Young Living lip balms are one of our favourite products.  
Whether you choose Lavender, Grapefruit, Cinnamon and holiday-exclusive Vanillamint, you really can't go wrong. Because they are formulated with coconut oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, wolfberry seed oil and Vitamin E, all of the Young Living lip balms are incredibly moisturizing and help prevent skin dehydration, giving you soft, smooth lips!
 
Tranquil Roll-on –A mix of Lavender, Cedarwood, and Roman Chamomile. A versatile oil blend for cough & cold relief, muscle pain, headache relief, digestive discomfort, cuts, burns and calming or sleep support.
 
Thieves Mints – will keep breath fresh on the go with sugar-free ingredients alongside the protective benefits of Thieves and Peppermint oils.



Check out YL's beautiful Ceramic and Glass Cover HAVEN, EMBER, and LUSTRE DIFFUSERS at the same price point! And for Children, the indestructible Snowy Owl Diffuser with sound and night light features! 
 

 

 
DIY ESSENTIAL OIL WARMERS
1. Turn Fabric Scraps into a neck or hand warmer. Sew three sides and turn the right side out.
2. Add drops of essential oils to  Rice in a mixing bowl and mix well.
3. Add the rice to the hand warmer.
4. Using a needle and thread or dental floss, sew the opening closed.
Microwave until warm to bring heat to cold hands, sore muscles or a crampy tummy.
 

DIY ROOM SPRAY
 20 drops of your favourite YL essential oil
 1/3 cup water
 1 TSBP Witch Hazel
 4 oz Glass Spray Bottle
Combine the oils and the witch hazel in the bottle and swirl to mix. Add the water. Shake well before spraying. Replace those chemically-laden air fresheners.
 
Enjoy giving your loved ones gifts of thoughtful, wellness support. Moving away from products that harm to products that heal is a great way to demonstrate care! And respecting your budget is a great way to care for your partner and dependents.
 

Let's care well for our loved ones and add a boost of wellness to cheer these shorter colder days!


Here is a printable form: Christmas DIY.docx



Okay, I Need You!

Okay, I Need You!
As I widen my world with writing, reconnecting and growing an essential oil business, I keep hitting mental barriers that push me to new places of personal growth. To grow my world bigger, I have to increase my capacity. As I use aromatherapy to improve mood and enhance motivation and clarity, I am also growing in awareness of messages that hold me back. They are often linked to a memory or an experience where I told myself something. I've had some experience with this before...

In my twenties, I confronted a vow I made to never need others. As a child, I saw someone ridiculed for being needy - I vowed to never need people like that. I would depend only on God.

Then Lance came along. I was used to wearing strength like armor. I kept everyone at arm's length.

Even after Lance & I revealed our mutual attraction and care, I tried to maintain some emotional distance. We had no commitment beyond friendship for six months.

Then, Lance asked me to commit to a relationship with him with the question: "Do you need me?"

And I was like... "ahhh... well, I like you a lot... you're good for me... I can't imagine not having you in my life... " But need?

Then he pierced my armor with the words: "I just want to know if you need me the way I need you..."

After dropping me off that day, I wrestled with the message in my head. Could I need him without losing my self respect? Would that make me needy?

As I was praying about it, I realized that needing him would mean choosing interdependence over independence. Could I live like that? Did I want to? It would mean considering him in my decision making about how I spent my time and energy - where I placed my priorities. Including him in my life as a partner would change things. Most of all, it would require vulnerability. I could get hurt. I could hurt him... My self protection would need to be dismantled to let him in.

So I started to write him a letter: I talked about the ways my life was better with him in it. Then, I thanked him for the gift he was to me. How, as I talk to him, I know my own thoughts better. How he mirrors for me so many of my own ideals. How his gift of leadership inspires me to be a better leader. How I feel more connected to God and myself as he seeks to know and understand me.

Then I finished the letter by saying:

"Okay, I need you."

On our wedding day I wrote and sang him a song with these lines in it:
"You double my convictions
Breathe hope in my despair
Bring vibrance to the colours and soft music fills the air
I need you.

I'll fly with you, to the places where He leads..."

I've loved the partnership Lance and I have lived - finding a way to need each other and respect each other's ownership of thoughts, self care, personal growth and supporting one another to live our unique callings. It doesn't feel needy. It feels the way life was intended to be - bearing one another's burdens - enhancing one another's joys - and growing into the best version of ourselves - together and side by side!

This year has been time to dig out some more of these limiting thoughts that get in the way of becoming. There is so much more possibility and capacity as I step into new places of clarity and affirmation of God's desires and calling. And Lance is my sounding board, truth speaker, and supportive partner as we parent, manage household matters, and grow into this next chapter of life together. I am so thankful that I don't have to stay stuck in self limiting beliefs - and that none of us do! Let's thrive, friends - together and side by side!  


Marble Cake - Dairy, Egg & Gluten Free

My oldest son, James, loves marble cake! I've been baking one for him every birthday since he was a toddler. But it has been getting more complicated to make a cake that works with our family allergies. Collectively we avoid gluten soy, corn, dairy, eggs, peanuts, nightshades, and we are careful about sugar. 

I adjusted this recipe using almond flour, millet flour and arrowroot starch as a base. It was moist and delicious. Just what a cake should be!

Baking is one way we communicate to James that he is seen, and known, and loved as we celebrate him! 

INGREDIENTS:
Wet: 
  • 1 ⅔ cups dairy free milk (I use almond or coconut - but rice milk works well, too)
  • 1 ½ tsp apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce or 3 flax eggs (3 tbsp milled flax seeds + 9 tbsp water)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry:
  • 3 ¼ cup almond flour
  • 1 cup millet flour 
  • ⅓ cup arrowroot starch
  • 1 ⅓ cup Volupta Zero Calorie Sweetener (Erythryitol & Monk Fruit Extract) or Sucanat
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup of cocoa powder (to be added for marbling)

INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease pans with coconut oil (two 8” round pans, one 9”x13” pan, or three 6” round pans). 
  2. In a large measuring cup measure out dairy-free milk and add vinegar or lemon juice to create a ‘buttermilk’ - let sit a few minutes. Then add applesauce and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
  3. Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Then add wet ingredients to dry and beat or mix until there are no lumps. Add more almond flour if the mix is too wet and more dairy-free milk if it doesn’t pour easily. It will be thick.
  4. Pour ¾ of the batter evenly into pan(s).
  5. With the reserved batter in the bowl, add ¼ cup cocoa powder. For richer colour, add more cocoa. If it needs more moisture add dairy-free milk.
  6. Drop dollops of chocolate batter on two areas of the pan. Then create a marbling effect by using a butter knife and pulling the chocolate through the vanilla batter in a pleasing swirl pattern. 
  7. Bake on the center rack for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges and surface appear golden brown. 
  8. Let cool in 9”x13” glass pan for several hours until the pan has no heat before frosting. OR Let cool 15 minutes in cake pans before removing to the cooling rack - then let cool completely before frosting. 


BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
  • ½ cup butter or 2 sticks of vegan butter
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 ½ - 4 cups organic powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Add softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beat for 1 minute until smooth and creamy. 
  2. Add vanilla and mix 
  3. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until thick, spreadable frosting is formed. 
OPTION: 
For chocolate frosting, add ¼ -½ cup of cocoa powder in place of the last ½ cup of powdered sugar. Adjust as needed for taste and texture. 

If too thick the frosting will be too hard to spread. Add ½ tsp of dairy free milk at a time to thin out. If the frosting is too thin, you can add more powdered sugar to thicken so that it holds the cake together.

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