Mark and the boys fashioned this simple memorial

Between our second and third sons, in the spring of 2004, we experienced our first miscarriage.  The emotional pain – and the length of that mourning – caught me by surprise.  I knew, through friends, that miscarriage was hard.  But of course there’s nothing like going through something yourself to truly bring it from your head to your heart.    

Once again we find ourselves in a season of hardship, having gone through three miscarriages starting in July 2011.  Mark and I have had several conversations throughout this time, and we desire to communicate from our heart on this issue that touches so many.  One thing that comes to mind is how miscarriage underscores how precious the gift of children is.  Pain and loss emphasize the fragility of life and help us to experience gratitude.    

Another thing I’ve longed to communicate is quite raw, so forgive me if this is awkward.  Of my four miscarriages, three have been quite early, so that the physical experience wasn’t very different from a regular cycle.  One occurred a bit later, at 8 weeks.  The day after the miscarriage began, Mark and I had a date night scheduled.  I decided to go forward with that, thinking that a night away may be helpful.  As it turned out, the miscarriage really ‘kicked in’ and as I sat in the movie theater, I could feel something passing through me.  It was a strange, surreal time as I stood in the bathroom stall afterward, trying to process what to do.  I was clueless about the reality of a later miscarriage (and 8 weeks is still quite early), so I was caught off-guard.  After all, the ultrasound tech said there was no longer any sac, yet here it was.  The medical world may simply deem this as ‘tissue’ to be discarded, but my heart told me to gently wrap this little one that we mourned so that we could have a time of memorial together.  When I came out, I was in a numb emotional place and shared with Mark what had happened.  He cried and hugged me, and we headed home.     

We were able to place our itty bitty baby in a little box and have a memorial in the backyard as a family.  We each shared the things we mourned about this baby.  The children shared their hearts that they were sad to not get to hold this baby, to not watch this baby grow up.  We were able to express the reality that we would meet the baby one day in heaven, and how exciting that would be.  It was a sweet, healing time that I’m thankful for.    

Shortly after that miscarriage, my neighbor experienced a miscarriage at 11 weeks and we spoke on the phone.  She hadn’t started bleeding yet, and I shared with her my experience to give her an idea of what to expect.  She was able to avoid the medication often prescribed to ‘hurry things along’ and was able to avoid a D & C.  Later, she shared how glad she was that we got to talk.  She was able to pass the baby naturally and was able to see her little one – perfect little nose, ears, mouth – the sweet reality of this person she was carrying.  She expressed that seeing her baby actually helped to bring closure and was healthy for her emotional healing.  Without expecting what would naturally occur, she may have chosen a different route which would have emotionally separated her from the physical experience and would have left her in a numb emotional place.    

After speaking with her, I felt anger regarding how miscarriage is dealt with in our society.  This silent, painful process is often treated in such a dry, medical manner, so that women are left in an emotionally numb state – unable to walk through the mourning process in a healthy way.  I encourage us, especially as women, to share our experiences with one another and to embrace the grieving that is very real regarding losing a child – whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or a child that was born, lived, and then passed.  Ignorant words can be spoken, resulting in mothers feeling frustrated and hurt.  A future baby cannot replace the baby that was lost.  Minimizing the reality of a baby (for example, with a very early miscarriage) does not minimize the pain, but rather leaves mothers feeling invalidated.    

There were a couple of books that were uplifting to me through these miscarriages.  While they are not specifically on miscarriage, they were very timely.  One is “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp.  This beautifully written book (truly – a piece of art) expresses how to experience joy in life amidst the raw pain that we are sure to walk through.  It’s a real life-changer, whether your pain is monumental or whether your pain is regarding the dullness of life – dishes, diapers and all.  Another wonderful piece of encouragement is “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo.  This amazing non-fiction captures a four year old’s experience with heaven that occurred when he died during an operation.  One aspect of it included his meeting his miscarried sister, whom he’d never been told about.  He shared impossible-to-know details regarding her and many other things.  We know that we will meet our miscarried children in heaven, and this book was a beautiful reminder of that fact.  It was healing not only for me as a mother, but also for my two oldest sons who read it.    

My hope in sharing our experience is simply that by bringing it to light, it will be an encouragement to some of you who have walked this same journey.  Our culture is often silent and confused regarding miscarriage.  Mark pondered this after a conversation with a customer over the register, as tears came to her eyes over her recent miscarriage.  Sometimes it helps just to know that you’re not alone in your pain, and that your pain is certainly very real.    

~ Rebecca 

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We received a response which brought to light how the section of this post regarding medical procedures may be taken wrong.  I’d like to post part of my response here, because it is definitely not my desire to judge.  I deeply apologize for not wording the post better.  “My perspective was coming from seeing friends who were hurt because they only knew of one option – going with the medication or D & C – and often having the process handled in such a way that they were emotionally wounded by it (for instance, not being allowed to have their baby to bury – because it’s ‘just tissue’).  My hope was to offer the other side to bring awareness to it, but not because the medical process is wrong or unnecessary.  My goal was to share my experience and that of my neighbor, because it was a huge ‘a – ha’ for me and for her.  We had no idea about how it helped toward our healing to see the reality of that tiny baby until it happened to us.  Please forgive me for not spelling that out clearly.  I have no judgment whatsoever for anyone who has made different choices in how to walk through their miscarriage.  It’s a personal decision, and there is no right or wrong in it.  I feel sad for women who make a choice because they believe it’s the only one – and that course of action ends up hurting them.”

Though I gave my life to Jesus as a teenager, the ‘box’ that I put God in was a pretty conservative one, influenced by my rational culture and church background.  God didn’t personally converse with people… that was something He did in the Bible, but not anymore.  People who talked like that were making it up.  Surely they must be, because I loved the Lord, and I didn’t hear from Him!  Perhaps the box that I put Him in is what built walls up for me, so that my ears were closed.  Slowly over the years, I’m thankful that the wall is coming down.  A little taste of experiencing the Lord, and I know I want more intimacy with Him.  This story is about one step in my journey in hearing from Him (John 10).   

My friend Becky has a real passion for what she calls “Inner Healing” ministry. Basically, Inner Healing involves praying together, sharing your life story in detail, then allowing your friends (who are there to minister to you) to listen and share what they’re getting from the Lord, so He can reveal things for healing/transformation. Becky had been feeling the Lord telling her to offer that ministry to me, and I was thrilled. We did it on the night of Sept. 1st, and it was an amazing night. The Lord revealed so much to me regarding His good plan for my life, and how Satan devised an opposing plan. The Lord is setting me free from many things that I didn’t realize were weighing me down.

Becky had encouraged me to pray the week leading up to it, for preparation – that the Lord would reveal things to me, etc. So, I did that. Then as I was driving to meet up with my three friends (including Becky) who were joining me for the Inner Healing, a neat thing happened. On the way, Francesca Battistelli’s song, “Free To Be Me” played on the radio. I’d heard the song many times before, but never paid attention to the words. At one point, the words became crystal clear to me and were spoken straight to my heart. I felt that the Lord was speaking that specific section of the song to me.

I arrived at my friend’s house, and we started the Inner Healing session. It was all very pertinent to what the Lord spoke to me through that song. So, at one point during our prayer and discussion, I shared that I felt the Lord speak something to me on the drive over which tied in to what was being revealed. They asked what, and I explained about the song, and I sang the section that the Lord spoke to me:

“..got a couple dents in my fender – a couple rips in my jeans. Try & fit the pieces together, but PERFECTION is my enemy. On my own I’m so clumsy, but on Your shoulders I can see, I’m FREE to be me.”

 At that point, my friend Becky reached behind her and grabbed a sheet of paper. On her drive over (1 hour & 45 minutes in Houston traffic), she had heard the same song, and the Lord impressed on her that the words were meant for me (that specific section that I had just sung!). There it was – written on her paper (quite scribbled, because she wrote it while driving – ha!)… the exact section of the song that I just sang! How encouraging to have the Lord speak just what I needed to hear in preparation for our night. He is so good and faithful.

I’m a child in this journey, but I’m so glad that my ears are slowly opening and I’m learning to recognize His voice. I hope this story speaks to you in some way.  He is VERY real – He is CRAZY about you – and He does still speak and move in powerful ways.

Our family in 2003

In the Fall of 2002, Mark and I lived in San Diego, California with our two young boys (Pierce – 2 ½; Jaden – 6 months). Mark worked as an electrical engineer at Intel, and found himself at an interesting crossroads with his career. When Mark was a bachelor, he put in long hours at work with little consequence. Once we married, however, and especially after we started having children, the expectations grew to be unreasonable. Mark’s work/life balance was painfully off-balance, to the tune of being expected to work 80 hours per week. He began praying regarding the situation, and interestingly, things at work grew to be ridiculously painful. It became clear to Mark that he was to quit. Interesting, considering that his goal prior to this season in life was to work his way up the ladder to become a VP at Intel.

In December 2002, we visited friends of ours in Houston. Knowing that Mark planned to quit in the Spring, they joked that we should move to Houston and purchase a lot in their neighborhood. They recently built a new home, and empty lots lined their street. This joke held no temptation for Mark, but I actually found the idea rather appealing. I spoke with him within the next couple of days regarding the many benefits to moving to Houston (cheaper cost of living, living near good friends, support with home schooling, etc.). He was not impressed… at all. But he said that he would pray about it, and he was open to my staying a bit longer in Houston to research building a home on a lot. You could say he was humoring me : )

Things seemed to fall easily into place regarding the home we would want built in Houston. When Spring arrived, we had one foot invested in building a home on a lot across the street from our good friends. It was a low risk to Mark, because pulling out meant little money lost. He was happy living in our home in a beautiful valley in San Diego. Moving to Houston still held little appeal, but he was faithful in prayer, asking for confirmation. He planned to quit in April, as he felt the Lord was leading him clearly in that area, but he had no idea what was around the corner regarding career. There was no reason – yet – to move.

One Saturday that Spring, Mark lined up a few different realtors to interview them regarding selling our home in San Diego. Once again, he was just speculating – simply doing his research. A heavy, closed door regarding moving to Houston would be a great relief to Mark. But if the Lord knew better, Mark would certainly follow.

Mind you, our home was not on the market. There was no ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard. Mark was simply talking with three realtors, one interview lined up after another, at our kitchen table. During one of the interviews, the realtor shared with Mark a story about a home in our neighborhood. The home was not for sale, but someone knocked on the door asking to buy it, and the house ended up being sold to them. In the midst of this story, exactly when the lady said the word “knocked,” there was a knock on our door. Not the ringing of a door bell. A knock. Mark got up, answered the door, and was in shock to hear a man expressing interest in seeing our home – to possibly purchase it. Mark motioned to the lady at our kitchen table, to express that he was currently talking with a realtor and would have to get back with him. The man expressed that he, himself, was a realtor. He explained that he had a client that may be interested in our home. And beyond that, he and his wife were interested personally.

After viewing our home, his client was indeed interested, which irritated his wife because she was interested in our home! Short story – a contract was signed within three days for them to purchase our home (wife won, client lost!). No fees, mind you, because he was a realtor and took care of the paperwork himself. Also, Mark asked that the sale of their home not be contingent, which the realtor had no qualms with. Mark was blown away.

With little doubt that he was not only to quit his job, but also to move to Houston, Mark willingly went through the motions to move our family to a hot, humid, flat city with plenty of traffic. Obedient to the promptings God gave us, his nervous stomach didn’t follow suit as easily, and he threw up that first night in our new home in Houston. He laughs about that now, as we’ve been so incredibly blessed by God’s redirection in our lives.

San Diego backyard view before the fires

In the Fall of 2003, fires tore through San Diego, burning down homes in our old area and altering the beautiful views of that valley that we lived in. Mark pondered the sad timing of that tragedy with awe. Looking back, we also wonder that if we had stayed in San Diego, Mark most likely would have taken another high-tech job (leading to more work/life imbalance) through connections with friends, rather than start Nurtured Family, as the Lord was leading him to do. Not to mention, we couldn’t have afforded to survive financially in San Diego, with its cost of living, running our family business.

The Lord works in mysterious ways. We find that the directions He has us take often look ‘crazy’ to the world. But if we follow, we find ourselves on a beautiful path. We’re thankful that He intervened in the details of Mark’s career, which has altered the dynamics of our family dramatically for the better. We marvel at the confirmations He gave us along the way, including that perfectly timed knock on the door.

Our most recent discovery has been therapeutic grade essential oils. We’re not talking about essential oils used to make your house smell like a Christmas tree farm or like a fresh apple pie; we’re talking about medicinal grade, properly distilled essential oils that can be used aromatically, topically and in many cases, even internally.  In some cases the essential oils your body needs or finds helpful are pretty simple to figure out. For instance, putting a few drops of Lavender oil on the bottom of my feet, will keep me (Mark, Rebecca’s husband), from snoring. Now I don’t know this firsthand, but Rebecca, who is having enough distraction from sleep with a nursing toddler, will tell you this is true!  Another great find concerns upset stomachs.  We have found that rubbing Di-Gize (a Young Living oil blend) on your abdomen when you are nauseous will generally alleviate the issue.  We have also found that orally taking a gel capsule containing a few drops of Thieves oil (another Young Living blend) will stop a stomach virus in its tracks if taken at the first sign of symptoms. With 5 children in the house, we have had several opportunities, unfortunately, to test a variety of oils and they have worked very well.

Some issues, however, are vague – and it’s hard to know which essential oils or supplements to try. We’ve discovered a fantastic tool that has blown us away — this is what we really want to share with you!  Several months back, Rebecca and I went to see Peter Minke in Bryan, TX to see if he could help us with some issues we each were having.  At the end of our sessions we took what is called a Compass assessment to see which essential oils would help our bodies the most (which involved placing our hand on a scanner for a few minutes).  There were a few oils that came up for each of us, listed in order of importance for our individual bodies.  From my list we ordered three Young Living essential oils, ready to see how effective this Compass scan really was.  I’d like to mention that the oils my body needed were ones that I never would have thought to purchase, like Black Pepper essential oil, and the “Hope” Young Living essential oil blend. 

The oils arrived the next week and I started using them. I put a drop of each oil on my wrist three times a day for 2 weeks.  About a week into it, I shared with Rebecca how different I felt.  Let me back up a bit and share that one thing I inherited biologically that I battle is feeling irritable and uptight when dealing with stress or chaos.  With five children, you can bet that dealing with chaos is a daily challenge!  So, here we were – going through an extremely stressful season in life (moving, etc.), yet I felt easy-going and peaceful.  Rebecca definitely noticed the difference at home.  At work, despite the fact that I should have been very distracted and bogged down, I felt like certain mental obstacles were cleared which allowed me to push through issues effectively.  During our conversation, I reflected on how differently I felt from the previous months, as if I’d been riding a roller coaster, constantly hitting new twists and turns.  We were sitting there talking about this when Rebecca asked me, “when did this start?”  I thought about it and then realized that I had experienced a dramatic shift in my outlook within 2 days of using the oils.  Nothing else had changed, except for certain challenges escalating during that week!

After experiencing this, we took a much higher interest in learning about essential oils and how to use them in conjunction with the Compass tool. We decided to purchase the scanner ourselves, and have since scanned many friends and family members and have been surprised at how perceptive and accurate the Compass scan is.  We are still learning the various properties of the oils and what their benefits are. The more we learn, the more amazed we are at what the scans can reveal. 

Feel free to drop by the boutique anytime we are open and request a Compass scan for $15.  We are trying to keep the price low so that the cost will not be prohibitive for anyone.  After the couple minute scan, we can either print out your report or email it to you.  We can also help you get whatever essential oils you need at our wholesale cost, if you’d like to give them a try.  If you would like a free scan, please be one of the first seven people to RSVP for our Essential Oils class on Wednesday, Jan 19^th at 7:30 PM.  Amy and Peter Minke will be leading the class, so it’s sure to be a fun and enriching time.

– Mark

We’ve had great success using essential oils for our family in a therapeutic, or medicinal, way.  In the past, I’d tried essential oils from health food stores.  Besides smelling nice, there wasn’t much benefit.  But over the past year I’ve learned the difference between a truly therapeutic grade oil vs. others.  Our family uses Young Living oils because they are manufactured correctly to be therapeutic.  They use the right plants, harvest them at the right time, and steam distill and bottle them quickly – before crucial oils evaporate.  They are not thinned out with other oils or added to, in order to cheapen them.  Because of this, they contain a broad spectrum of components that other oils, which may be labeled as a “pure essential oil,” simply don’t contain.  The proof, for our family, has been in the results.  We’ve stopped stomach bugs in their tracks, by ingesting a few drops of the Thieves® blend in a capsule.  We’ve kept fevers under control with Peppermint oil; used Lavender oil for restful sleep (without snoring!); stopped the symptoms of fire ant and mosquito bites with the Purification oil blend; taken the ‘burn’ out of burns by applying Lavender; controlled yeast related itches on feet with Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil…. the list goes on and on.  Recently at our boutique, we’ve held some workshops on Essential Oils for use with Pregnancy, Birth, Babies and Postpartum.  I’d like to share my notes in case they may help you in some way!

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Essential Oils – Pregnancy, Birth, Babies & Post Partum

Facilitated by Amy Minke who has years of experience using essential oils to treat almost everything her family has encountered.
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It’s important to use therapeutic grade oils to achieve results.  Most essential oils, even from good health food stores, don’t do much more besides smell nice.

The 4 P’s help explain why Young Living oils are therapeutic grade:

• Plant – use of the correct plant, the best plant – not a cheaper alternative (like lavendin, for lavender)
• Preparation – plants are harvested from the field, steam distilled, and bottled quickly.  They’re not left in a pile for a few days, to have crucial oils evaporate in the sun.  They’re harvested at the optimal time for each specific plant (for example, certain flowers only at night, etc.)
• Purity – the oils are not missing key components (chart showed how Young Living oils have broad spectrum of components, other oils were charted and were missing the majority of the components).  Also, oils are not thinned out, cheapened, added to.
• Potency – have the proper constituents to make them effective.  They are potent!

Tests have been done to see how quickly the oils go into the bloodstream after being rubbed on to the skin.  Blood couldn’t be drawn fast enough – it’s always present immediately after being rubbed on.

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Some specific oils & their uses:

Thieves® Blend – boosts the immunity; prevent sickness.  Antimicrobial.  In every test done, Thieves killed every microbe it came into contact with (this was true, even being distilled in the air – doesn’t take much!).  More effective than bleach – mildewed, moldy drywall was rubbed with a bleach solution on one half; the other half had Thieves distilled *in the air* – not even rubbed on – and Thieves was more effective.  Rub Thieves on the bottom of the feet.  A great, safe place so that the cinnamon & clove in it will not ‘burn’.

Lemon – Antimicrobial.  Fabulous, safe oil for babies – rub on the bottom of their feet to prevent/treat sickness.  One of the cheapest oils, too!  Great to use a few drops with your wet wipes solution, for cloth diapering.  Lemon oil is natural bioflavonoid – helps Vitamin C be absorbed effectively. For treating varicose veins & hemorrhoids, ingest a drop of Lemon oil while taking Rutin with bioflavonoid supplement, for more effective absorption.  Amy used Lemon oil on her newborn niece when she was hospitalized with meningitis.  Every time the oil was rubbed on her feet, her heart rate would drop down to a healthy rate immediately.  Then slowly it would rise again until the next application.  They were able to see this, as the baby was hooked up to the machines.  They applied the oil every 5 to 10 minutes, since she was very ill.  She had been getting worse, but Amy treated her for a couple of hours until she saw things turn around, and then left Lemon oil with the baby’s mother.

Lavender – Calms the nervous system.  Use when overwhelmed; too mentally “on”; to help sleep; to prevent snoring.  Rub on the back of the neck when overwhelmed and needing to calm.  Great for skin; stretch marks; fabulous for burns – apply immediately.  For an after-sun spray, add to pure aloe juice in a spray bottle.  For thrush on nipples or mastitis - rub on lavender/olive oil.

Peace & Calming® Blend – calms type A personalities; hyper children.  Sooth to sleep; mellow.

Frankincense – the ‘grandfather of oils.’  Expensive – very difficult to harvest from a tree inhabited by snakes.  Very useful for many applications. ‘Higher frequency’ oil, which means it’s extremely effective.  Everything has a ‘frequency’ – the body does as well, and it declines with illness, especially serious illness.  “Clinical research shows that essential oils have the highest frequency of any natural substance known to man, creating an environment in which disease, bacteria, virus, fungus, etc., cannot live. The chemistry and frequencies of essential oils have the ability to help man maintain the optimal frequency to the extent that disease cannot exist.”  Frankincense is an oil of the Bible; can be rubbed on the crown of the head for spiritual applications – spiritual experience (prayer/meditation).

Purification Blend – great for repelling bugs or for application on bites.  Apply a few times – immediately, then a 2nd and 3rd time – to keep minimizing the effect of the bite.  To repel bugs, rub a few drops between your hands and lightly rub this all over arms, neck, etc.

Valor® Blend – known as an ‘adjustment in a bottle’; aligns the body.  Amy has seen bumps & bruises visibly effected – apply immediately after injury!  Put on the cord site for newborn immediately after birth.  Great for mother for postpartum – for trauma to tissue.  Amy shared story of her son’s broken leg.  X-ray tech could not believe how serious the break actually was because of how the leg visibly looked & her son’s lack of pain, because she had liberally used Valor before taking her son to the hospital. 

Peppermint – for ages 5 & up, unless applied to bottom of feet. Great for headaches – rub in hands and breathe in.  Some place a drop on their thumb and place this on the roof of their mouth for a headache.  Great for tummy aches & nausea.  Put a few drops in water and drink.  Use to bring fevers down.  Apply to bottom of feet for ages 5 and younger so that it is not inhaled or ingested.  Use to treat overheating – put on ear lobe to cool down.

Sensation Blend – improve response to sexual intimacy.  Can use as a boost for lower sex drive as a breastfeeding mother.

Ylang Ylang – hormone stabilizer; great postpartum oil.  Take internally or rub on.  Can use as a boost for lower sex drive as a breastfeeding mother.

Sage – hormonal issues; helps with despair/mental fatigue; used to dry up breastmilk – do not use while nursing.

Rosemary – energizing oil, it may be beneficial for helping to restore mental alertness when experiencing fatigue.  Good for adrenal issues.

Panaway Blend – for pain issues – teeth, bone, joint.  Add a few drops to 1/2 oz olive oil to rub on baby’s gums for teething pain.

Di-Gize Blend – effective for digestive concerns (bugs, etc). 

Marjoram – muscle problems.

Copaiba – from South America; aids digestion and supports the body’s natural response to injury. Copaiba contains the highest amounts of beta caryophyllene of any known essential oil.

Fennel – increase breast milk; increase contractions.

Myrtle – immune booster; respiratory issues; cough – rub on chest

Cypress – great to stop bleeding; used successfully to stop nose bleed or hemorrhaging after birth.  Do not rub on the actual site of bleeding, but nearby – in order to get into the skin and in the blood stream.

Coriander & Geranium – levels blood sugar; gestational diabetes

Melaleuca Alternifolia – commonly known as tea tree; anti fungal; great for skin

JuvaFlex Blend – supports the liver and the digestive and lymphatic systems; great for Eczema; skin issues

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Suggested Labor & Delivery oils – Valor® blend (trauma), Peace & Calming, Lavender, Frankincense, Rose, and Cypress (bleeding).  My personal game plan is to have my husband rub a different oil on every 15 minutes (excluding Cypress, which will simply be close by in case it is needed).

Custom “Labor Blend” to use after labor has started:

* 4 drops Helichrysm

* 2 drops Fennel

* 2 drops Peppermint

* 5 drops Ylang Ylang

* 2 drops Clary Sage

Dilute 50:50 [in carrier oil such as olive or almond oil].  Massage on reflex points on sides of ankles, lower stomach and lower back.

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Misc. products -

“Animal Scents” Ointment – originally used for animals, this ointment is extremely effective as a diaper rash cream.  Contains tea tree & myrrh.  Also great for stretch marks. 

“Kid Scents” Lotion – wonderful lotion; contains MSM.  Great for arthritis – decreases pain & inflammation.

Clear Vegetable Capsules – these make ingesting oils easy.  Our family has used these to stop stomach bugs in their tracks, by placing a few drops of Thieves® blend inside of a capsule and ingesting.

Essential Oils Sample Bottles – these are handy for giving friends samples or for keeping certain oils on-hand in your purse or diaper bag.  I’ve found that I want to have Valor (for bumps & bruises), Purification (for bug bites) and Cypress (for bleeding) handy.

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Treating sickness – if in acute phase, apply oils every 10 – 15 minutes.  Set your timer!  Look for improvement within a couple of hours.

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For wholesale pricing, you can sign up as an Independent Distributor.  You can call - 1-800-371-2928; Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. US MT; Sat 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. US MT – or sign up online).

The Everyday Oils Collection is wonderful, because it contains a variety of useful oils: Frankincense, Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, Purification, Panaway, Peace & Calming, Thieves, and Valor.  In addition, the basic “Start Living” kit is included, with contains Lavender, Peppermint, NingXia Red samples, and a lot of resources for getting started.  A coupon for great savings on a diffuser is included, which I made the mistake of not using before it expired.  I didn’t realize then just how useful a diffuser is, and how much I’d be saving by cashing in on the coupon.  We now have a diffuser, and use it almost daily – I highly recommend taking advantage of that coupon!

I thank you for using my ID as your Sponsor/Enroller ID:  1013464

Blessings,

Rebecca

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DISCLAIMER: This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice; it is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. If you have questions or concerns, please consult a qualified medical practitioner. Also, this information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Postpartum doulas are trained and experienced to serve, helping you manage the daily challenges of this crucial period.  Their goal is to nurture your family as a whole – parents and siblings included – so that you can be free to bond with your baby during the first few weeks of his or her life.  Having a doula present can help reduce household stress levels in order to create an ideal environment for a happy baby.  Doulas can help guide you through baby basics as well as teach you important tricks of the trade, such as infant massage and other techniques to sooth your newborn.   Doulas enter each home without judgment or expectation, understanding that each family functions and parents with their own unique style. Her job is to serve by finding what techniques work best for you.

The doula’s greatest role is that of education and support. Although most hospitals offer lactation consultants, many parents still leave the hospital feeling unsure about breastfeeding. Much of the information given in hospitals or breastfeeding education classes can be difficult to apply once your baby has arrived. The postpartum doula will assist you with breastfeeding when you’re home settled with your baby – just when you need support the most. Doulas help guide you through those areas where you might need a little help or just a few words of encouragement. 

Hours of availability depend on each doula. Some will work for as few as a couple of hours each day and some will work for up to twenty four hours at a time. Many doulas will help with light housekeeping and some cooking, depending on your needs.  Most are available day or night.  The length of time you will need a doula will depend on your preference.  As you adjust to life with your newborn, your doula will be there to provide encouragement along the way.  When you feel more confident and knowledgeable in your new role, your desire for professional support will reduce.

Many new mothers are so focused on their new baby that they tend to forget to take care of themselves. The postpartum doula knows that tending to mom’s needs is just as important as tending to the needs of the baby. A doula realizes that each mother’s experience is different and can act as a comforting presence as you are confronted with unfamiliar situations. Through serving and nurturing the entire household, a doula provides the ideal environment for your baby to get the best start possible – bonding with you.

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By Jessica Gonzales, a special guest blogger for Nurtured Family.  Jessica is a Houston area birth and post partum doula.  If you would like to get in touch with her please let us know.

Antimicrobial… less laundry to wash

Due to the lanolin in wool, it is naturally antimicrobial. This translates to convenience when it comes to laundry. When urine or breast milk comes in contact with wool – even saturating it – wool is self-cleaning due to lanolin’s anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. For example, despite urine leakage on a sheepskin, it will smell fresh and clean when nighttime comes again. How wonderful to only have to wash once a month, despite potty training issues! In the case of urine soaked wool diaper covers, the wet wool cover only needs to be hung up to dry while baby wears a fresh wool cover. The next day, the hanging cover is ready for use again! Likewise, nursing mothers are able to alternate between two pairs of wool breast pads, washing them only when needed – about every 2 to 4 weeks.

Smelling fresh

Especially in hot, humid Houston, moms are all too familiar with the smell of sour milk mixed with sweat – an unappealing mix for baby when it comes to nursing. How exciting to find something that totally takes care of that problem! Since the lanolin in the wool is antimicrobial, odor is not an issue. Also, because of the porous structure of wool, moisture evaporates from the skin as moisture is wicked away.

Incredibly absorbent

The fibers in wool can absorb about 40% of their own weight in moisture, which is approximately ten times as much as any synthetic fiber is capable of. Amazingly, even when wool is soaked, it feels dry due to its porous structure.

Dust and mildew resistant

Besides being antimicrobial, the natural lanolin in wool aids in repelling dust mites and mildew. Another reason mildew and dust mites find it hard to survive in wool is due to its dry, porous nature.

Aids sleep

Wool supports good sleep due to the fact that it is effective at moderating temperature and humidity. Tests have shown that when sleeping under a wool-filled comforter, people’s heart rates are significantly lower, which is a good thing. In addition, the tests showed that humidity next to the skin was significantly lower, about 2/3 of the time! While most people think of wool as great for cold weather, the fact is, it’s perfect for warm and cool environments. Wool does a better job than all other fibers when it comes to handling body moisture, in heat or cold. The make-up of wool translates to moisture being absorbed and evaporating very efficiently. This is because of how porous wool is, with fibers meshed in such a way that millions of air pockets are created.

Natural breast protection

Since wool is such a fabulous regulator of moisture and temperature, it is the perfect choice when it comes to breast pads. Skin is kept dry and able to breathe, allowing sore nipples to heal. Scandinavian midwives have, for centuries, advised mothers to protect their breasts with wool pads, which regulate body temperature, to prevent plugged ducts and mastitis. For this reason, wool breast pads are worn to cover the entire breast. Due to this, mothers love the fact that wool breast pads are more flattering, without breast pad lines showing through clothes.

Fire resistant… safer bedding

Wool is naturally fire resistant, due to its special chemical make-up and moisture content. This makes sheepskins, wool mattresses and blankets perfect for bedding.

Easy to maintain

When it comes to washing wool products every 2 to 4 weeks, care is easy. The purpose of washing wool is to restore lanolin to the wool. Rather than washing with regular detergent and rinsing, wool is soaked or washed in a lanolin wash and not rinsed. This is important to know, because rinsing the lanolin from the wool will take away many of the benefits. The lanolin is the natural wax that needs to remain in the wool in order to help make it so amazing!

– Rebecca

My dear friend Erin called recently and laid out her plan for her new diaper purchases.  Her baby girl was turning one, and she’d come to a point where she didn’t like feeling the wetness of prefolds.  Erin planned on buying some FuzziBunz One Size diapers, but mainly she was leaning toward sized diapers.  I encouraged her to hold off on buying any sized ones, and rather to try out a couple of the FuzziBunz One Size.  She was hesitant.  She’d tried lots of one size diapers in the past, and didn’t like how they fit or how it was harder to stuff them with inserts due to how they bunched up in the front with snap downs.  I realized that she didn’t know how FuzziBunz One Size diapers were constructed differently.  Even though she’d seen pictures of them online, she didn’t take a close enough look because she assumed they were like the others.  We decided that I needed to blog about how they’re unique, in case others misunderstand as well!

So, here’s the deal.  You know how children’s clothes often have adjustable waistbands with button holes in the elastic?  Rather than adjusting by snapping down, FuzziBunz One Size diapers take advantage of the adjustable button/elastic system around the legs and at the waist.  Due to this, there is greater adjustability than other diapers.  In fact, there are 10 settings for the rise (rather than 3, like most one size diapers) and 4 settings for the waist (rather than no adjustability, like most one size diapers). 

The most brilliant part of the FuzziBunz One Size diapers, to me, is that the elastic is not only so adjustable – but easily removed and replaced when it wears down!  I find that the two things to wear out the fastest for cloth diapers are Velcro (which I tend to avoid in general) and elastic.  Since FuzziBunz only comes in snap version – no Velcro – and the elastic is replaceable, they will last and last! So, if you’re looking for a diaper with a smart design that will last longer than others, FuzziBunz One Size is definitely worth checking into. 

At this point, you may be wondering what Erin thought. Here it is straight from her:

“I wanted to switch to FB because Stella was too squirmy for the fitted and cover combo. I needed something fast – that works! And honestly, I think I was a FB snob because it is the “it” diaper. I knew there had to be some underground or less popular cloth diapers that needed our love too. Right?!? However, I have to say that our new OS FB are the best in fit and function! They work ALL night without leaking and the fit is super! No bunching. No awkward fit. Nada. Not to mention how fast they dry compared to the fitteds we were using that would take multiple cycles to dry. I am won over. And yes, I repent for being a cloth diaper snob.”

To get set up with FuzziBunz One Size diapers and save more money, be sure to look for our Starter Package, that you can scale to fit your needs.

– Rebecca

There are many benefits of babywearing. Studies show that a worn baby cries about 40-50% less than the norm. Moms are more responsive and happier, while babies are more secure. Babies who are worn score higher on the Bayley Mental Developmental Index and the Psychomotor Developmental Index. Beyond these documented benefits, parents find that wearing their babies gives them greater flexibility – no more lugging heavy baby seats around, no more being tied down to a breastfeeding or sleep schedule. Baby can nurse or sleep wherever needed, and mom feels confident knowing she can breastfeed discreetly no matter where she is. Babywearing encourages language development, reduces instances of plagiocephaly (abnormal head shape), counts as tummy time, and frees up the caregivers hands.

For centuries, babywearing has safely aided parents so they can live life while nurturing their children. So, what should parents make of recent news regarding the danger of baby slings? When it comes down to it, any product can be used in a dangerous manner. And the truth is, some products are better designed than others. One of the dangers highlighted lately in the news has been that of babies being worn in a tight “C position.” As with the recalled baby carrier, when a baby hangs in this position, their chin can be pressed against their chest, restricting their airway.

Whether in your arms, a baby swing, a car seat or baby carrier, it is important to be aware of your baby and their position. Baby carriers like the Infantino SlingRider, which was recalled, and “one-size-fits-all” padded slings which are sold at super stores, should be avoided in order to stay safe and comfortable. A high quality sling or carrier places baby above the waist, with their body and head supported securely, avoiding the “C position.”

All of the baby carriers Nurtured Family has featured over the years are high quality, safe carriers that parents can feel good about. While it is important to highlight the dangers of inferior baby carriers in the media, it is unfortunate that the term “sling” was used. The term often used for the recalled product is a “bag carrier.” Nurtured Family has never sold this style carrier, as it is one that we have not used ourselves and do not recommend. Rest assured that wearing your baby is a wise and loving choice when using a high quality sling or carrier correctly.

– Rebecca

        Photo by Brittney Stanley

I hope that the realization of the amazing gifts we have been given as women wash over you as well.  The gift of welcoming new life through our bodies.  The gift of nurturing that life physically through our bodies and emotionally and spiritually by our guiding words and affectionate touch.  The high calling of motherhood is often lost upon our culture, but it is my prayer that you will connect more and more to the truth that this woman’s work is amazingly important.

This Mother’s Day, treat yourself to some good old-fashioned fiction.  Both of these books chronicle a woman’s journey to her higher purpose as a woman and mother. I hope they’ll be inspiring to you, as they were for me.

~ Rebecca

Stepping Heavenward By Elizabeth Prentiss

Mother By Kathleen Norris