Life in the WiniVan

Diet...not for weight control, for health!

2020-10-28T06:55:00.001-07:00

The scary monster that has been sleeping under the stairs has awoken. For us its a seizure disorder!

My daughter hasn't had a seizure since the 3rd grade, she has not taken any medication for seizures since the 5th grade. Sunday, Oct 25th, that all changed! While siting down waiting to leave for church, she said "I don't feel good" she had a weird feeling in her throat, followed by dizziness and suddenly face planted into the wall onto the floor and had a seizure completely unprovoked. She is 13 and we had been warned that often with changing hormones, reemergence of seizures is likely. All we could do is sit with our fingers crossed praying that we dodge the bullet.

Without going into how horrible our American healthcare is, I am forced to find a way to help my daughter. I am a single mom, I work in healthcare and pay an enormous amount of my paycheck to our health insurance. There is no help with out paying out of pocket! I would love to be able to afford functional medicine, but this isn't a reality for me. Which brings me to....changing our diet!

I have always leaned toward a plant based diet, but the research for a ketogenic diet for seizure disorders is intriguing. Never thought I'd consider Keto yet here I am listening to podcasts, reading up on keto studies, and getting all my ducks in a row. This is not going to be easy, actually this my be the most challenging thing I have done.

I plan to journal our progress via this blog.

Please note that I do happen to have a wonderful Pediatrician and will of course be consulting with her through this process.

3 months

2019-07-03T05:29:00.000-07:00

Back to work and getting into a summer routine...knowing that just when I get into my grove things are going to change again. Classes start back up in August and I have to rethink the routine once again. Hopefully I will have learned how to make and KEEP a budget. Whew! who knew that such a simple thing would be so very challenging. I have got to stop using my credit card as therapy for the ever growing dark hole in my being.
I think today may just be the first day that I have admitted that I am depressed. You see I hate that word....because I really don't like labels....but I must call it what it is! I am in a cycle of seclusion and unmotivated life. I get up everyday and drink my coffee, I read my Bible although I feel like they are all just tiny little actions that I do just to do, never really "getting anything from it" I read and it goes in, floats around, finds nothing to cling to, and vacates! I run/walk/bike each day just to clear my mind enough to make it through another day in this new life. Even that doesn't seem to be enough!
I will continue to put on foot in front of another, pour that next cup of coffee in the morning and read that next Bible verse...I know that God is here in all this, I know that He will pull me out and our me out...I just have to do the foot work and that can only be accomplished by my getting up each and everyday. My smile is fake, my heart is broken, thankfully my tears have dried up for now, anger is always lurking just around the bend.
Joy!
It's real!
It's there and it's palpable.
Sometimes I just have to dig a little deeper to bring it to the surface...but digging is something I can do in the dark!

Is there really a light at the end of the tunnel?

2019-05-31T09:08:00.001-07:00

Thankful for an overcast day with a slight breeze. Living in Georgia without AC for the second week! Temps have been high 90's-100's....I keep telling myself "they survived in the 50's without AC, we can make it" I can say that we are surviving...but we do end our days in our bras and panties laid out on the floor under the ceiling fans.

IT"S HOT!!!!!!

So, since April, we have found termites $5,5000, a collapsed sewer line $5,500, a water leak$ 275, pool pump issues $275, and now the AC unit motor is out, $1,200! Oh and don't let me forget the most profound thing that has occurred.....my husband is in JAIL, PRICELESS!

It's only May 31st...Does it ever stop?

I have never cried so much in all my life. This was my first week back to work. I signed the papers for a full time position, I cried, I scheduled all my shifts, I cried, I scheduled my call shifts, cried so much! My wee girls saw the therapist this week, I became an emotional basket case! My daughter has strep throat and had a panic attack all this week....she's only 10, I cried so much more!

I honest to goodness just don't know where I am pulling from anymore....How am I going to do this life?

Mountains

2019-05-27T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from a previous unpublished blog I wrote about one and a half years ago. Funny how words that I previously wrote must have been typed for this very day...as a reminder of who I am underneath this pain.

On Sunday, our actual anniversary, we went on a short hike (approx. 7 miles) up the side of a mountain. just incase you don't know, hills KILL me...they are my kryptonite!
As we are climbing this mountain, through the rain...I start to realize that this hike is very much like marriage....IT IS HARD WORK! I am not kidding, it's the hardest thing I have ever done...and that says something! as a mom of four, military wife, RN, and US Marine....marriage is HARD!!!!!!

The ascent pushed me to my limit, my whole body revolting to the workload. It becomes a matter of the mind. The whole time I was hiking up the side of the mountain, I couldn't help but think how much it resembled my life and walk with God. It's painful, almost unbearable...and then there is a 10 foot stretch of flat land that allows me to catch my breath, which encourages me to make the next mile of incline. The...rain falls and cools me off for a minute, we see some beautiful waterfalls along the way, but overall it just burns every muscle in my body.

Some would want to quit! Me...that is not who I am! I have to see the result of my work and pain! The Holy Spirit takes over and I can not quit! I can't! I have to make it, because why start something if you are not going to finish, right!

At the top of this mountain, above the rain clouds you start to understand that the pain is worth it. That all that hard work, brought you to a place of pure bliss and wonder! SPECTACULAR!

Is this how our lives are to God? If we make it through the painful, grueling, uphill climb, cold weather, and rain we make it to a spot of such beauty that words can not describe, that pictures can not display? Our father loves us, he wants us to get there...but we HAVE to do the leg work...and it IS gonna hurt. I pray that He will provide the small little stops that refresh the soul and keep us moving on the path set before us.

Glass House

2019-05-26T06:24:00.001-07:00

It's almost the end of May in the year 2019.
Three weeks ago today I found out that my life would be forever changed.
You see...I spent that fateful Sunday calling all the phone numbers located in my husbands cell phone record in an attempt to find him. Our last contact with him was on Friday afternoon!

It took about four hours, maybe more, for the phone to ring. The phone call that would remove the scales from my eyes, allowing me to see how fragile the structure of my life had become.
It was a stone being thrown, only I didn't catch it and it shattered the walls of my pretty little glass house....into a million tiny shards with razor sharp edges.

Everything that I was holding onto, slipping through my fingers, my marriage, my retirement, 75% of my income, my families health insurance, part of my identity.....it was all going away! Nothing left except for droplets of blood and tears, old scars opened. My faith....SHAKEN!

After 18 years of living a military life, it felt like we (the kids and I) where guilty of the charges my husband was being held on.
We had no choice in the decision that lead him to be arrested and we most certainly can not even begin to understand the WHY of what he did.

It doesn't matter....Life isn't fair and I am suddenly the sole parent of my four daughters, the sole manager of our house, and financial future! I ALONE, must persevere....How do you hang onto hope when life sucks the oxygen out of your environment?

It feels like an eternity since I logged into the computer and saw that my husband was indeed in jail, over 2,000 miles away, with bail set at $100,000. The man that I just celebrated 24 years of marriage with....I could not believe it! There had to be a mistake!

I question God....why wasn't he dead? He could have had a heart attack, quick and final. Yes, I am aware of how very harsh that sounds. I could have mourned and been with my family, and moved on with our lives. We could have talked about what a great husband and father he was! I could have shared my grief. Instead, I can't even tell my younger girls why he is in jail. I feel ashamed, embarrassed. I want to run away, hide, seclude myself from everyone!

This years goal

2019-04-25T13:01:00.001-07:00

I started this week, with -84 weight watcher points (thank you Easter potluck at work ;) and thinking I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with my C25K, due to Peroneal Tendonitis (Wrapping ankle hurt the rest of my foot). Well, today I have 19 extra points to eat and finished week 3 🎉 KT taping actually works...thanks to a quick YouTube tutorial!

Looking forward to seeing the next 10 lbs disappear

4 girls, 3 days, 2 excursions, and a Prius

2017-08-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the road and onto the couch...

You would think that after some many hours sitting in a vehicle, that sitting on the couch would be an absolutely NO!

wake up....Couch, coffee, news.

up to shower, grocery store, home, water, couch....

clean bunny cage, and sun room, couch!

Jeez...I am just wiped out! Time to pour a glass of wine and watch some Netflix before I have to begin cooking my mans birthday dinner.

Now to the real point of this blog 😏

ROAD TRIP, details

4 girls, 3 days, 2 excursions, and a Prius

The adventure began on a Sunday morning at 0'dark thirty better known as 0430. Goal:to be on the road by 0500...actual, we left 0515 (close enough) breakfast consisted of applesauce, fruit roll-ups, or veggie muffins, all served a la cart, on the go.

As we drove to our first destination, we made it a point to stop at each state line for a photo op and walked around the buildings stretching out our legs.

We arrived at our first destination, Cumberland Falls, KY at approx. 1200. Just in time for lunch!

Picnic style lunch: Tuna Salad, PB&J's, Pirates Booty, Go Go Squeeze. All prepared prior to departure.

This stop has no cost.....YAY!

We enjoyed a nice adventure that included rock climbing, waterfalls, and a beach walk.

Next stop Mama's Camp...Ohio

We arrived late evening, unloaded, watched the most recent Big Brother and headed off to bed...AaaaHhh!

The next day consisted of playing Frisbee, sequence, and just hanging out relaxing. By relaxing, what i really mean is: we searched for a book to listen to, did laundry, and planned out our travels for our impending departure, It is not easy planning a mid week road trip that takes you through Columbus, Cincinnati, Florence, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta...Timing has to be neat perfect to miss rush hour on this trip.

After many minutes of contemplation we decided to leave later than our normal.

Departure: 0630

We reached Mammoth Cave National Park at 1120, one detour, no traffic jams 😌

Booked a 1245, Historic Tour, went over to the picnic area and enjoyed the peace and quiet while having another picnic type lunch out of our cooler.

Time for the tour....

Amazing and cool (54 degrees)

The rest of our trip had us stuck in traffic...we made it to Nashville around 4, not a good time 😡 But we prepared for this, mentally, we had a great book and empty bladders.

Then the accident going out of Nashville....then the Chattanooga traffic...and an accident on 75 in Atlanta....Again, we new this was a risk, but I didn't mentally prepare myself for really STUPID drivers. You know those people who just CUT YOU OFF, we no directional or clearance to do so. My poor daughter have to calm me down after I starting flipping people off.....I20 was clear the entire way home, thank you Jesus.

Not proud of my behavior, but I am super proud of my daughter for keeping me in check and reminding me that we were enjoying our time and listening to a great book together 👭

we made it home at 0030....yes it was a very long trip home...I L💗VED (almost) EVERY MOMENT 😉

Getting ready for the girls road trip - 2nd annual Mama Camp

2017-07-27T09:44:00.002-07:00

This will be the second annual girls road trip - destination...Mama Camp!

Mission: planning out a short, sweet, inexpensive road trip for four girls.

Ages: 8, 10, 17, & 43

Mode of transportation: Prius, aka, Tardis...(it's bigger on the inside ;) This allows us to travel using very little money for gas.

This trip is coming up FAST!!!!! we are leaving in just a few short weeks and I really haven't decided anything more than dates.

I am looking at stopping at cumberland falls on the way up. Here we can hike to some falls, take a little boat ride. The downside to this is that it requires us leaving at 0400....

YIKES!!!! That's early 😮

we are heading out on a Sunday morning, traffic should be lighter. Spend Monday, relaxing and visiting with my mom and dad. Then head on down to Kings Island on Tuesday...Just me and my teen. Riding dollar coaster for 10 hours then heading to a hotel or camp ground until the morning.

This is where I am not certain about our plans...camp or historic hotel? Then will we have time to check out Daniel Boone National Park before getting on the road? I also need to start planning food for the trip.

Food:

Veggie Muffins
sandwiches
Turkey/Ham
Bread
lettuce
tomato
mustard
cheese
chips
carrots
apples
yogurt drinks
Cookies or Brownies???

Entertainment

Adventures in Odyssey
Nintendo
Movies
Road Trip games

ABC game
I-spy

Stops

Cumberland Falls

hike to falls and boat ride

$15 x 2 adults
$13 x2 kids

Mama Camp

relax, visit, recharge

FREE

Kings Island

$39.99 x2

Historic Boone Tavern Hotel

$91 one night

Daniel Boone National Park

hike to falls

Home

😊

DIY bathroom remodel

2017-07-25T05:57:00.003-07:00

What in the world was I thinking...

I thought a 3 day weekend would start and finish this project....HA!
Scrapping the popcorn ceiling turned out to be the easiest part of this weekend adventure...and that speaks volumes 😳

We are going into our third weekend and it isn't near completion.

We started by Scrapping the popcorn off the ceiling and removing the vent covers. The use of a wallpaper steamer seems to make this project much easier than any of the other ceilings we have scraped.

Took everything apart...we reused all the door hinges due to the high cost and challenge of matching exactly. They were soaked in paint stripper and then spray painted with oil rubbed bronze to match the new fixtures. the counter top, was sanded down in prep for cement application and the carpet (YUP! I said carpet in the bathroom 😶) was removed and the floor scraped and cleaned.

1st application of Ardex feather finish cement

The wall proved to be our greatest challenge...it was bonded with the drywall! Unwilling to detach from the wall...we tried steaming, scrapping, scoring, wallpaper removal chemicals...all of which failed 😡 finally, I submitted my will to the walls and found a wall paper that I thought would cover the old wall paper (which I was also incorrect about).

Applying the sealant, Cheng food grade sealant

We used a food grade sealant for the concrete counter. It looks so much better than the old cultured marble. I do wish I wouldn't have added any color and left it grey, but I can attempt to fix that at a later date.

We added a wood wall behind the sink, using a distressed tongue and grove kit we found at Lowes. It was perfect for this space. The new light fixtures adding just the right amount of elegance.

the start of a pattern

Yup, those are pennies! this floor cost approximately $74, I wish I would have kept a better record of how many times I went to the bank requesting $20 in rolled pennies! If you do this, make sure you take a bag...it's a whole lot of pennies.

I used Elmer's glue to put them in place, and I was very thankful that I didn't use anything more permanent for the applications, because I scrapped them all back up a couple of times trying to make a pattern. It held them down very well, never had an issue with pennies getting lose unless I used the scrapper.

mirror found at my favorite Home Goods

To finish the penny floor I used black unsanded grout and then sealed it with a heavy duty polyurethane.

I absolutely love this room...
it is just some much lighter and brighter, I am no longer embarrassed to let guests use the downstairs bathroom.

Chimney Rock, NC

2017-07-25T05:19:00.002-07:00

This is a great little journey...

Making souvenir pennies

climbing the stairs

By little I really mean, it is straight up!

Stairs, stairs, and more stairs.

We absolutely loved it...great exercise and beautiful scenery.

For us our journey began at 0900 on a Thursday morning. Our first stop on the journey to Mama Camp.

It cost $13.00 per person to enter, which I thought was too much! although I later realized that there are many other things within the state park to do and it is VERY well maintained. So maybe it really is worth the money?

By getting there early we beat the sun and the crowds.

Actually, it was foggy when we arrived and therefor we did not get to enjoy a spectacular 75 mile view that is boasted in the advertisements. that didn't really bother us much as the fog cover kept us cool as we trekked UP the BAZILLION stairs!

The journey included several spots to stop and take in the gorgeous views, rest on bench and catch your breath or stand on the edge and have your breath taken away! Also, there is a tunnel to climb through and a little cave to climb in.

going down

the fog starting to lift

Even with the fog, which gave us the perfect climb temperature, it was a fun and enjoyable journey for the entire family ages 42 down to 7.

pokemon go!

yup! we climbed up there

We completed our experience by shopping in the gift shop 😁😁😁

School is starting....time for a road trip!

2016-08-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

Nothing like squeezing in a road trip as school begins...late in the week between a couple of 12 hours shifts....this is after all why I became a nurse and home school our children...flexibility to travel when we want and can :)

This trip serves many purposes...take the younger girls for a week at the grandparents and to spend some alone time with the teen while enjoying a little nature and exercise. I am hoping that this is the first year of a tradition for my younger girls. This is a great chance for them to really get to know each other and have some fun, without mom and dad telling them no or to behave all day long. It is something that I had always wanted as a little girl, and it warms my heart thinking that I have a opportunity to have my girls grow up with family!

I am so excited.....

We have 3 days, for this round trip adventure! Traveling with me, E (16 year old), H (9 year old), and C (7 year old). Driving the Prius to save on gas $$$$

The plan is to leave early on Thursday, praying that I don't get called in to work today, because I need to plan, shop, and pack. Working 12 hours shifts Tuesday and Wednesday. Leaving early Thursday morning (approx. 5:30-6:00).

My goal is no fast food for this leg, so I really need to do some food prep.

We are stopping at Chimney Rock state park in North Carolina for a small hike to stretch the legs and eat an early lunch, then its on to grandmothers house we go. Only stopping for restroom breaks and gas.

We will spend Friday in Ohio visiting with my folks and enjoying some yummy Chinese food at the House of Hunan in Marion, Ohio :)

Leaving early Saturday morning (0530). For this leg of the trip I plan to stop for a meal. We will be stopping at Babcock State Park in West Virginia for a hike. It's a little of our path, but I am really excited to spend this time alone with my gal. It's so hard in a family that is as big and busy as ours to spend quality time ALONE.
Besides stopping to eat, the rest of our journey will be spent traveling home...I am going to be searching Audible for a book to listen to that both my daughter and I will enjoy!

Kitchen

2016-02-22T10:54:00.002-08:00

The Kitchen...where to start?

For me, it is these 1980's brown cabinets that made this room feel dark and dated. After various pins and videos I chose to use the Rust-Oleum Kitchen Transformation kit. This proved to be the most cost effective method for what I wanted to accomplish. I did find the the most expensive change is hardware. There are a lot of cabinets with hinges and knobs that all needed a makeover. I did purchase new knobs for the doors and drawers, but I did decide that painted the hinges would save me money. There are so many spray paints on the market today!

The counter tops are black but I can not rationalize replacing the granite just because they are not what I would pick, especially when the long term plan for this room is a complete reno I am talking several years down the road, so this face lift needs to be kept to a financial minimum. Therefor, the counter tops and back splash shall remain!

Here is my mom and I scrubbing and degassing the cabinets. I love being able to look back and see all the changes that have occurred. The wallpaper has been removed, the ceiling fan taken down (personal preference) and the brown shutters that cover the window are no longer present. Not to mention that a whole row of cabinets that blocked the view to the family room have been removed. It was sad to see the storage loss but this is a decision that I would not take back!

Once all the cabinets and drawers dried we set up stations in the garage and the sunroom that would allow us to work. Here you can see how I used just about anything I could find as a work table! The doors are in various stages of progress from base coat to glaze.

The Kitchen Transformation Kit did not disappoint! I am very pleased with the outcome, although it is a ton of work.

Be prepared if this is something you are thinking of doing. It will take days, so be patient and plan accordingly.

Family Room

2016-02-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Before pictures...complete with brown paneling, pink carpet and brick fireplace.

Today we have removed the old "dusty rose, mauve, pink" carpet out of the family room...Yay!

here you can see the white washed brick

After removing the carpet from the stairs and hallway, I was not excited about removing the carpet down here. Thankfully my husband and dad were able to pull it up. Underneath all that pink carpet....Linoleum! Which is a reoccurring theme in our fixer upper.

After removing the carpet, the padding, and years of dirt, the floor is ready for the new hard wood to be placed. My mom and I did a whole lot of sweeping!

For this room we have chosen a hand scraped bamboo, Antique- Morning Star. This area is likely to be high traffic and likely to get wet as the kids come in from the pool this summer. It makes me so happy to see it being put in down.

Since this room looked so much like a dungeon A lighter color (Magnetic Gray, sherman williams) on the walls with a dark trim color (Dark Forest B

rown, sherman williams) really transformed this space into our family room. To lighten up the fireplace yet keep the natural brick (which we love) my daughter and I white washed it and then added a rustic wallpaper in the back of the bookcases. This created a wonderful focal point. Everyone that visits our home comments on how gorgeous this turned out.

Change....Overwhelming Change

2015-08-07T07:03:00.002-07:00

Not sure where I am going with this or the purpose of this post, but I feel like I need to place these thoughts and feelings. The current situation of my life right now are....crazy (for lack of a better word right now).

Sunday, August 9
1st...I am not complaining! I am über excited about my husbands selection for promotion :) However, we are back to square one with order selection...UGH! I have had one of those weeks, you know what I am talking about...the kind where every time you are blessed you suddenly realize the journey of that blessing. I think with everything that has went on this week God has just made me VERY aware of my limitations. Again, I am not complaining....just living a very REAL life and not necessarily loving every minute of it ;)

Tuesday, August 11
I cried out to the Lord and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept yet woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. Psalm 3:4-5

David was fleeing, running for his life. Yet, he laid down and went to sleep! Yup, because he was confident that God was watching out for him.

Today, I pray that the Holy Spirit with fill us with this same confidence that God IS WATCHING over us and that His plan is coming to fruition. That because we step out and onto the path that we have been chosen walk the enemy of our soul, feeling threatened, and knowing of the defeat that faces him steps up his game.

Today…I AM CONFIDENT IN GOD even though I am afraid of this dark and uncomfortable path that I am on. The intensity of the attack helps guide me and I pray for discernment in the areas that I need to pray and when, in weakness I am unable to pray, I ask that the Holy Spirit step in on my behalf and pray for me.

September 1

Orders selection was so simple....the detailer just simply switched commands...we are going to Augusta :)

I am struggling with control (or lack of) I know that God will take care of us...that He knows what we need better than we do, so why do I continue to allow stress to burden me? I am not sleeping and have been increasingly short with EVERYONE. Did I mention that I am STRUGGLING with reading my Bible right now also.

and so now that I have confessed the real problem...(above) you would think that I would let it go and spend my time praying for God to do it all, because He can and He will!

on a side note, I have at least starting working out again...which leaves me asking why I ever let myself get out of shape...the journey back to fit...is PAINFUL!

"and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

Sept 2
This is the day the Lord has made...for three years this is the first sentence of the first email that i opened Monday-Friday while stationed at Camp Pendleton. I did not have a relationship with Christ at this time in my life and still this verse has stayed with me all through the years and has become a personal mantra. The chaplain sent out daily emails and every single one of them began with this verse from Psalms 118:24.

Yes, I realized that it really has no relevance to this rant....but today I woke up and went straight to my devotional time. Even though I struggle with staying focused on it and even when my heart isn't 100% into it...I know that today is the Lord's and He made it for me to get closer to Him. No matter where I am, He finds me and it is up to me to search for Him. Because....sometimes God pursues us and at other times we must pursue Him.

Called to battle

2015-06-07T07:48:00.001-07:00

I have many friends that I have prayed for and that I have supported and been there for them, but I have never felt so called to stand in the gap for another before as I am right now.

I have had many battles, for myself and family that I have sought out God, for guidance and wisdom. Although I must admit that often I then turn my deaf ears up towards heaven and pretend not to hear His reply. I am afraid...I am afraid that I will follow through and be left wanting. I can not believe that I am even saying this right now, that I am afraid that God will be like the fathers that I have had...that I will be abandoned, belittled, and unloved.
This is a revelation to me...

In this battle, I have done what I have never done before...believed! When the enemy attempts to plant seeds of doubt (and believe me they flood over me) I seek out God and know that He is present.

Maybe its easier because it's not my battle...maybe this is why God wants us to pray as teams because when we are the target of our enemy, we can not see as easily as those around can, emotion takes over. This morning I actually spent 2 hours reading my bible and notes from my journal...I started this day with no words, no direction, and doubt ebbing on the outskirts of my mind.

By the end of these hours, I had found words to encourage and strength to continue. Again, I know that this isn't about me, not in any way. The strength I seek is for others, for a child that has been abandoned, for a family that just wants to answer a calling, for a friend in need, most of all GOD called me to fight in this battle and I said YES!

Desperation

2015-06-05T06:53:00.001-07:00

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines desperation as: a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope.

- that is me just about everyday, hanging onto life, dangling from the edge of a cliff with my fingers digging into the Rock.
This is exactly where I need to be...without desperation I lean on me instead of Him. In my desperation only God can, there is no me! I must cry out for the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf. Because I am blind in this world...blinded by vanity, materialism, anger, distrust, and apathy.

Just as others before me, I cry out in desperation for my Father to keep me glued together and keep fear and doubt from breaching my spirit.

Lord, I am desperate for you!

Even after I gave this much thought and prayer, it became obvious that this was not only for me...that desperation was not only the place where I needed to be, but others are walking in a place where God needs them to be desperate, as well.

Not long ago, I made a commitment that instead of turning on the TV when I awoke in the middle of the night, that I would open my Bible and seek out the reason for my sudden alertness. This has proven to really open my ears and vastly improve my time with God. Although, being woke up in the middle of the night is not always received happily by me (really, it never is) I still accept that this is likely the only time that He can reach me. Sometimes, I have no clue why I am up and other times I wake up with a song running through my thoughts on repeat, and still other times I wake up with a very specific thought (this I prefer because it usually means I am going back to sleep after I pray :)

Back to the purpose of this post, the word desperation did not cease to occupy my mind...Not only did I continue thinking about being desperate and what it meant, the thought was also accompanied by a song by Michael W. Smith "I....I'm desperate for you, I...I'm lost without you"

WHY????
Because....someone else needed this more than me. Only I did not realize it until at 2:45 in the morning I woke up with the urge to pray for my friends that are walking through some significant battles right now.

Caprock Canyon State Park

2015-04-07T05:01:00.002-07:00

This is the last day of our date vacation...an accumulation of all the date nights we have missed over the last several months :) Totally worth it, by the way!

Today, we went to Caprock Canyon State Park in Quitequay (kitty-quay). It is suppose to be a slightly less spectacular version of Palo Dura Canyon, I loved it...

I am not sure that I would say it is less spectacular just different, much more wild life friendly and we were excited to see some wild Bison running around (this didn't happen). We did get a visit from a rattle snack and watched prairie dogs run wild.

Of course our plan was to follow an easy to moderate trail for about 3 miles so that we could get on the road home. What we ended up doing was a challenging trail, thinking it would be moderately strenuous like the CCC trail at Palo Dura.

I was WRONG!

It most definitely was challenging! about three quarters of the way up my husband looks back and says "are you ok?" apparently my face was REALLY red. It was hot and inclines are my kryptonite :)

So, when you visit Caprock Canyon, just note that when a trail is listed as difficult....they mean it!

There were a couple of times that we were wishing for some sign that we were on the trail :) They are marked but the markers are not very close. The best part about it, there were very few other people out and about. We did meet up with some other folks at the Fern cave, they had hiked in from another trail.

Palo Dura Canyon

2015-04-05T15:30:00.001-07:00

Today we planned on going to Palo Dura Canyon after hearing that it is second only to the Grand Canyon.

I am not going to tell fairy tells...I had mixed feelings about what to expect, after reading reviews. Not to mention the drive to the canyon consisted of completely flat prairie land then...out of nowhere the ground drops and the canyon is massive.

We arrived at 08:30 am and started with the most popular trail, the lighthouse. It's understandable why this is so popular...it is spectacular and we had a great time getting to the end.

It took us about 2.5 hours to finish, we were in no hurry...taking in the scenery.

The other trail we completed was to CCC trail. Listed as the most difficult. It is 1.5 miles each direction. I loved this trail, it was nothing like what I was expecting. I thought it would be a fairly straight shot up to the top, but this trail winds around and up and down giving way to spectacular views of the canyon.

The CCC took us about 1.5 hours...again we took out time enjoying the solitude.

Cadillac Ranch

2015-04-04T18:39:00.001-07:00

Don't let the name confuse you! This is not a ranch...it is a number of (maybe 10) Cadillacs in the ground covered in graffiti. As long as you arrive understanding this you will enjoy this stop. Don't forget the spray paint, you will want to add you mark :)

The only disappointment at this stop for us was the amount of litter. I will never understand why humans feel it's ok to throw trash where ever. Trash cans are available and very convienent, there is no excuse.

Otherwise this was definitely worth the stop if in the area.

Carlsbad Caverns

2015-04-04T18:29:00.001-07:00

This morning we left Roswell, after a great breakfast at the Hamptom Inn for our adventures at Carlsbad Caverns. I have been wanting to visit since 2013. When I first heard of them. Since we are a military family the $20.00 park fee is waived and a national park pass is given right at the ticket counter, yay!

This place is AWESOME....as we drive in the 7-8 mile drive in, on beautiful winding roads, we are already planning our trip back with the kidS :) AMAZING!

Inside there are 31 miles of trails inside to tour. Because of availability we did the Kings Palace tour. This is listed as moderately strenuous and slated to last 1.5 hours.

For us it was slow pace with frequent periods of sitting for atleast 15 minutes. The tour had tons of history and geological information. It was fun, but we had hoped for more walking and strenuous inclines. Again, we are alwady planning our next tour :)

20th anniversary road trip

2015-04-04T17:51:00.001-07:00

I am aware that our anniversary was March 11 but at that time we had other priorities! Yes, it's kind of strange that we choose good Friday as our day of departure...but it is really very rare to encounter a long weekend that we are both home and not working :) so here we are! I am blogging from a hotel in Roswell, NM.

Why are we back in the room so early? Because everything closes at 5 o'clock here 😠 Now, I did not have crazy expectations for our stop here and I am still disappointed! I had really hoped to see some of the places from the Roswell series from the 90's...oh well, just means that we will get to the cavernsearly tomorrow!

The route we chose to drive was interesting. We opted to take 380 desiring to avoid Fort Worth at all cost!!!! While there was VERY little traffic (barely any) there was also a lack of restrooms, places to eat, or get gas :) thankfully there is a historic site marker every so many miles...so if you chose to drive route 380 make sure to carry toilet paper to pee on the side of the road😁

DIY All-Purpose Protective Essential Oil Blend

2014-12-19T07:27:00.002-08:00

I am not sure what is going on this year...but I have caught every virus that has gone around...I think it may be partially due to my recently new involvement with youth. What ever the cause, I don't like it and I definitely don't like wasting my time going to a doctor for antibiotics that may or may not work, but will cause side effects :)

I have been diffusing a flu bomb in the bedrooms at night, this is a mix of melaleuca, on guard, lemon, oregano and frankincense. My hope is that I can protect my family from catching my current virus and that I will recover. As anyone that has children knows, the cycle of a virus in a home that has a large family...it just keeps going around!

Today I found another recipe to try from The Prairie Homestead.

DIY All-Purpose Protective Essential Oil Blend

20 drops clove essential oil
18 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil

Combine all oils and store in a dark glass container. This makes a fairly small amount, so feel free to double or triple the recipe.

Use this blend in your essential oil diffuser to purify the air.
Mix this blend into your homemade cleaning products for extra disinfecting power.
Dilute the blend, then rub it on the soles of your feet.

Oil sprays

2014-10-20T06:15:00.001-07:00

In my search I found these recipes that I am also going to try while at work in an attempt to enhance the moods of myself and my coworkers. Between 0200 and 0500 we could be cast in the walking dead :)

The Pick-Me-Up

1 drop eucalyptus

2 drops geranium

3 drops peppermint

This will be for home use (also we don't need any help sleeping st work :) not to mention the $$$ for Frankincense, I tend to be stingy with it!
The Calm-Me-Down

2 drops bergamot

1 drop frankincense

3 drops lavender

Lemon

2014-07-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Lemon Oil

Citrus limon
This essential oil powerhouse is cold-pressed from lemon rinds to preserve its delicate nature and potent properties.
Lemon is known as a powerful aromatic, topical, and internal cleanser that can be used to complement many other oils.

Primary Uses
• Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces

• Naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion

• Supports healthy respiratory function

• Promotes a positive mood and cognitive ability

Diffusion

Diffuse and take internally to assist with seasonal respiratory discomfort.
Diffusing lemon in a room can cleanse the air and uplift mood.

Cleaning

Add Lemon oil to a spray bottle of water to clean and disinfect tables, countertops, and other surfaces.
Lemon oil also makes a great furniture polish; simply add a few drops to olive oil to clean, protect, and shine wood finishes.
Use a cloth soaked in Lemon oil to preserve and protect your leather furniture and other leather surfaces or garments.
Lemon oil is a great remedy for the early stages of tarnish on silver and other metals.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize any skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.

CAUTIONS
Possible skin sensitivity.
Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.

You can purchase a 15mL bottle of Lemon oil from http://www.mydoterra.com/angelswinnie/
Or sign up to become an IPC and save on all your oil purchases

Essential oils for PMS

2014-06-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, I know that I am not alone in the monthly overdose my kidneys endure as I battle the discomfort of PMS. I have always rationalized my abuse of the dosage through abstaining from these medications throughout the rest of the month allowing for my body to function normally...I know, this is just my way of justifying the abuse of OTC meds each month.
Last month I decided (after watching my daughters following in my foot steps of taking too much Ibuprofen) I decided to take less Motrin and use essential oils to alleviate the pain.

My girls are not crazy about the smell, but got over it fairly fast once they realized it worked...and it does. Last month I made it through with only taking a couple of the ibuprofen instead of 3-4 capsule every 5-6 hours (which is an extremely large dose over two days).
So this month, I noticed that my daughter went right for the Clary sage blend...this...makes me happy! She would not use it, if it didn't help!

Here is what I blended with fractionated coconut oil in a vial with a roller ball for quick application on the abdomen.

two pipettes of Clary Sage,
5-6drops of Geranium,
5-6 drops of Ylang-ylang.

This filled my vial about halfway and I filled the rest with the

fractionated coconut oil.

Clary sage oil can promote the release of dopamine in the brain and, therefore, help lift your mood. It also modulates the level of estrogen in the body.

Geranium oil influences the release of adrenal hormones and also reduces fluctuations in hormone levels.

Ylang-Ylang oil is used to reduce high blood pressure and excessive sebum production. Therefore, it can help calm women suffering from PMS as well as relieve PMS-related skin diseases especially acne.