A letter to my son's future teachers.

I saw a glimpse of it this weekend--what it will be like for him to be lead by others' teaching.

He is in a class of a whopping four kiddos for swimming lessons.  With not a fear in the world he goes into this lesson like he was born for it.  "Teacher, teacher, watch what I can do!...Can I go first?!...I know how to do that...what's your name?...what's your number?...I can blow bubbles....hey, watch this!...When can we jump in?...When are we going to go swimming?...I want to do it again!...No, I don't like that game...these goggles are hurting me..."

You get the idea.

Within moments, I see the look of pure exasperation and a slight annoyance take up the instructor's face.  Poor thing.

Like many four year olds, he carries with him an endless amount of energy, lack of filter and enough questions to make answering them a full time job.

But in that quick moment, I saw that look on the instructors face and I knew.  I knew I need to start praying for you!

You see, he may not be the one that has bad behaviors or friendship issues, nor will he be the one that goes unnoticed and silently takes up a seat.  He may or may not be a high flying scholar in your class (I personally think he is a genius and is wise beyond his years), but he may very well likely be the one that exasperates you to no end in class...with only the best of intentions, of course.  You know, that student.  The one with the mom that says he's perfect and the, "oh you'll love him, he's the sweetest kid ever!" and then you're going home at the end of the day with one more gray hair from that kid.  The one that has you taking a few extra deep breaths and may require a little extra patience. The one that tests your own wealth of knowledge by asking endless amounts of questions and always having something to say...again, with the best intentions.

I get what a big job it is to not only lead one, but a class of students.  I understand that you have legit superpowers and no other human being can quite understand your role unless they try it for themselves.  I understand that it's natural to have favorites and ones that, well, you're ready to see leave on the last day of school.  I know what a struggle it must be to juggle academic performance with engagement with mindfulness with differentiated learning with a thousand other things.

All I ask is that you try to love my child.  Love is also a superpower that can do more than any being can.  It can help you to see the innocence and purity that may not come out of him at first.  It can help you to see what a huge heart he has for learning, for people and his capability to love others.  It will help you to see what he needs---what he really needs.

So, teacher.  Mr. or Mrs.  I pray for you.  I pray that you have confidence in knowing that you have one of the best jobs in the world and I pray that you teach my son and your class like they are brilliant little minds that are capable of anything they put their mind to!  I pray you give him the benefit of the doubt and see what a strong leader he can be.  Frankly, there will be an infinite amount of prayers I will have, so just know I'm praying!

I know you have super powers, so please help my kid to feel like he has them too!

Love,

that mom.

What's in my bag, oils edition!

Take a look!  I recently ordered some roll on glass bottles from Amazon (seriously, is Amazon not the best thing ever--I never leave my house to shop anymore--further building my social hermit-ness!). These things are so great and handy. I made my own little stash-able life savers to get me and the fam through the day when we're away.  Super easy to do too.  Like, fool-proof.   All of them have olive oil for the carrier oil--not my fave, but it's what I had on hand.  

Bye bye headache: 15 drops peppermint

Sleepy time: 20 drops cedar wood, 10 lavender and 5 breathe easy

Germ-buster: 20 drops thieves

Wake-up: 15 drops grapefruit, 5 drops lemon, 10 sweet orange and 5 eucalyptus 

I feel like a perfume oil may be next, and maybe a tinted lipgloss!

Cedarwood.

So, I recently told you (remember that blog post where I just dumped everything on you from the last 4 months!) that one of my new favorite oils is Cedarwood!  I just love it!  I've been using the brand "Edens Garden" which I have come to love!  They are 100% pure and while not as costly, compare to many of the top brands of oils.  I also recently just discovered that they give back a portion of their profits to some great organizations (YWAM and Teen Challenge!)  So that just makes me love them more! ( I am not selling oils from them or gaining profit--just sharing my opinion).

Ok, back to Cedarwood.



This lovely oil smells awesome and can be used to treat many skin and muscle ailments.  I've used it so far for calming.  I put it on my wrist or big toe at night at it helps to calm and soothe the senses.  I've actually combined it with lavender oil in some homemade lotion to make a bedtime balm.  Can't wait to use it on the kids!

Loving this oil!  Do you use oils?  Which is your recent fave? How do you use them? I'd love to hear!

The big elephant.

Well, there is a big elephant in the room of my blog and it's name is, "Holy crap, I have not blogged in ages and so I'm just going to pretend like we are best friends and we can pick up where we left off by just posting some pictures and tid-bits because I'm really too lazy to update you on the last 4 months of our lives"  Phew!

Seriously, moms that have jobs, businesses, kids and families, how in tarnation do you muster up the time and creativity to be consistent.  I want what you're drinkin'! No really, what's your secret!?  Honestly, I feel like I am JUST adjusting to being a mom of two now....now that my "baby" is almost a year in a half!

Well, you asked for it, so here are some pictures.  Ok, I know, you didn't ask, but let's pretend you did--okay?

In a nutshell, those are some highlights from the last few months!  

It's a new year friends, and with a new beginning, come the ever cliche and monotonous resolutions! I don't have a specific resolution per se, however I do have ambitions to keep moving forward in some areas that I and my family are working towards.  I feel like resolutions for me become more of a head game of "I win or I fail".  But when I set out to create new goals and grow in specific areas, I embrace the roller coaster of the ups and downs much better!  Here's what my heart and mind is set on this year (I'm sure there'll be more!)--in no particular order:

1.  Be even more minimal.  We like to think that we are pretty minimalistic when it comes to "stuff", but I know we can do better and de clutter more.  Theres nothing better than filling up a bag full of stuff to get rid of!

2.  Be more health and food conscious.  Last year, I became much more educated on what my body needed to be healthy and how to best take care of it.  I want to keep tapping into that knowledge and keep being good to my body from the inside out.  Cleaner foods, more activity, less eating out.

3. Embrace more adventures and big life changing decisions that God brings to us!  We've had a couple of exciting conversations about some possible decisions coming up in our lives and I want us to go into them head on and trusting!

4.  Stick to our budget and lessen debt.  Those school loans are still kicking our butts.  We've got our budget in place for the year, now to stick to it!

5. Read my Bible more.  God has renewed my passion for the Word and I am so excited to dive back in and learn--and in his perfect timing, we've started a new series at our church (we've become part of a new church!!) about reading the Bible and how to get more out of it!  I have a feeling God will show me a lot through his Word this year and I am thrilled!  

6. Pray more.  By myself. With my kids.  With my husband.  With my friends.  With strangers.

7.  Use more oils.  I'm collecting a perty little collection of beloved essential oils and I'm always excited to find new uses for them and new oils all together!  My new favorite is Cedarwood!  I hope to use oils for at least 75% of our needs (medicinal and ailments)  as a family (we'll see if I can get the mister on board).  Right now I am at about 50%.  It is amazing all of the benefits they give! 

8.  Compare less.  

9.  Be more intentional in every facet of my life.

10.  Be more giving--again every facet.  Time, money, talent, energy, love, etc. 

11.  Take more pictures and videos.

12.  Accept non closure--another multi-faceted desire.

13. Create a positive change.

What are your goals and aspirations for the next year?

I promise I'll come visit again a lot sooner!  Maybe even tomorrow--or today, holy cow, past my bedtime folks! 

G' night!