Cousins

All of our grandsons were together on Wednesday night and Friday morning ~ MaMa & PaPa's house was rockin'

Robert 4, Aiden 2, Alvin 1, Thomas 2

my favorite ~ they are all smiling!

Aiden expends lots of energy trying to escape!

Love my wiggly boys!

PaPa's shoulder makes a great resting place!

Robert & Thomas riding PaPa's "antique" rocking horse

outside time ~ Aiden got brave and rode the little tractor & loved it!

Thomas on Thomas the train (best $5 I spent at a garage sale!)

Our sweet baby is walking! 

Robert riding his big boy bike we bought the night before

sharing among 2 year olds is a concept we are working on ~ they did real well

Auntie Amy got the rabbit out for a visit!

checking out the chickens

soccer time

Alvin can kick it too!

Come on ball...roll to me!

PaPa and his buddy

MaMa didn't need to leave these cones on the driveway ~ I will pick them up for her.

Our 4 little blessings

cone heads

I got a stick!

bike riding concentration!

We are thankful for ~

the blessing of 4 beautiful grandsons
hearing their laughter
watching their fun
watching them learn
listening to their conversations
watching them learn new things
seeing them take chances and overcome fears
the time they can all be together
a sunny, nice outside day on Friday
healthy, sturdy little fellas
the anticipation of more little grandbabies in the future

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

I am thankful for ~

a loud house, full of people
lots of food
hands that helped cook this food
help with cleanup
reading sales ads
annual family black Friday on Thursday shopping trip
grandson fun
the bounty we have been blessed with

Thankful for.....

Today I thankful for Gadgets......

My -
Vacuum cleaner
carpet cleaner
Flushing toilet
Hot water heater
Central heat and air
Fridge & freezer
sewing & embroidery machines
Electric irons
Television
kindle
Mixer
stove top & oven
Gas grill
Propane heater
Google
Clocks
Dishwasher
Computers

Like Ariel I can say....I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty, I've got whozits and whatzits galore!

And I have lots of thingamabobs, thingamajigs, whatchamacallits.

Blessings abound in the little things!

Essentially Monday ~ A Week of Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Here are the oils I am especially thankful for ~ they are all doTERRA brand oils ~

Slim & Sassy blend ~ Greg and I take this daily, it really does help curb appetite and flushes our systems

Breathe blend ~ fall allergies are cropping up and this helps open up air passages and calms coughing

Digestzen blend ~ helps with rumbly tummys, discomfort from acid reflux, car sickness issues in little ones.  I can use this straight from the bottle with no problem, we needed to mix it with fco for Greg to use.  It has also helped with monthly upset tummy issues.

Wild Orange & Lemon oils ~ both taste great in my hot spice tea and lemon kicks plain water up a notch

Peppermint ~ besides smelling delicious, it also helps with digestive issues and it tastes awesome in hot chocolate

Clary Calm blend ~ this is good for female issues ~ both for monthly issues and menopause issues

Deep Blue ~ cream or oil ~ great for stiff, achy joints and muscles.  James even used this for the muscle pain associated with kidney stones, last time he had an attack.

Frankincense ~ this Biblical oil is good for so many issues but I am currently using it for  the dizziness that accompanies Meniere's Disease.  It is not a cure but a help when mild dizziness hits.  I put about 10 drops in a glass roller bottle and fill with fco (fractionated coconut oil) ~ gently shake the bottle and roll behind both ears and down the sides of the neck.  It is effective for me.

Lavender ~ the calming properties in this oil make it a great roller bottle oil for the bottoms of feet at bedtime

Serenity blend ~ my favorite bedtime, diffuser oil for the bedroom....I am sleeping really good!

Other than the frankincense, which I use as needed ~ all of the other blends, I use daily.

**None of the above information has been approved by the FDA or is it intended to be medical advice.

**Not all oils are created alike ~ the doTERRA oils single oils are pure oil ~ no fillers or additives.   Oils sold in grocery stores or big box stores are generally diluted, or chemically enhanced.

I am thankful for ~

the oils listed above
the care doTERRA puts into their products
knowing that I can buy their products & not worry about the safety
their "giving back" mentality in helping the regions where these oils are harvested
the kindness of the office staff, when I have a question or concern about my order
the swiftness in receiving the orders
their new low shipping costs ~ $3.99 that is awesome!
being able to get my oils at 25% off
placing a monthly order & earning points toward future purchases
using the points for free oils (great way to stock up on favorites or try something new)
the education provided by my upline
laughter, love, and caring ~ even long distance during online classes
the educational & DIY pages on the doTERRA site

The fact that these oils have been around and used since Biblical times ~ and the creativity of the Lord in His blessing & abundance. 

Using more natural products in and for our home ~ topically, aromatically and/or internally. 

If you would like more information ~ please message me and I will help in any way I can.  Or visit my online site at http://mydoterra.com/jacksonsessentialoils.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING  week! 

Wisdom

Our Wednesday night Bible Study at church is studying the attributes of God.  The video study is "Rekindling the Fire" by Mark Kieler.  Last night was part 6 of 18 and the attribute of the Lords was wisdom. 

Here are some of the things that impacted me & the scriptural references for you to look up, if you desire.

Examine where you have been getting your wisdom from.  From scripture we get the truest, purest and greatest wisdom found in Jesus Christ.

What makes wisdom so valuable, is it helps us make the right choices, the right decisions, to choose the best path, and to consistently and successfully select the most beneficial method, approach, solution or venue that is available.

Knowledge can be a good thing, but wisdom is even beyond knowledge because wisdom is the tremendous beneficial God-given skill of being able to take and apply knowledge to real-life situations.

Wisdom ~ a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong

1 Kings 3:4-13

1 Kings 4:29-34

1 Kings 1:1-10

1Kings 3:16-18

1Kings 3:12

Luke 11:29-32

Wisdom helps solve life's most difficult problems.  It's the kind of attribute that enables those who it at, or at least those who have access to it, to take complex moral dilemmas, or difficult, critical, apparently unsolvable life decisions and be able to discern not merely safe, effective solution but the safest, most effective, most productive and most godly solutions~ which breeds a kind of love and admiration in our hearts for those who have such wisdom and especially for those who are willing and able to help us by applying their wisdom to our life problems.

Human minds are finite, but Jesus Christ is God and because He is God, His wisdom is infinite, perfect, unlimited.

Jesus Christ knows everything, everything possible, everything actual, all events, all creatures, the past, the present, the future.  He is perfectly and completely aware of every detail in life pertaining to every being that's alive not just on earth but in heaven and in hell.

Daniel 2:22

Psalm 139:6

Psalm 147:5

James 1:17

Colossians 1:16-17

Job 40:6-7, 39:3-38

Matthew 10:29-30

Hebrews 4:13

Psalm 139:1-18

Psalm 139:23-24

Hebrews 4:13

Luke 11:13

Proverbs 15:3

Psalm 90:8

2 Chronicles 16:9

Genesis 16:13

Luke 11:31

Proverbs 1:22-23

Proverbs 4:7-9

Godly, scriptural wisdom will bless you in your life in ways far too profound and numerous to even begin to list.  And it will cause you to do so many things so differently than the conventional wisdom of the world.

Just where have you been getting your wisdom from? 

5 Critical Applications

1. Ask for wisdom James 1:5-7

2. Search for wisdom Proverbs 2:1-6

3. Trust and expect wisdom Philippians 4:6-7

4. Apply wisdom Philippians 4:6-7 & Proverbs 2:6-22

5. Love and appreciate wisdom and its source: Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 1:30

The love we ought to have for Jesus Christ whose wisdom teaches us how to love one another, how best to live life, how best to raise our children, what blesses God, what is truly good and what is truly evil, ad literally everything there is to know about life, both in this life and in the next.  How utterly lost we would be ~ many are lost without even knowing it ~ apart from wisdom.  May God give you the grace to lean not on your own understanding but to trust in the one and only true wisdom: the wisdom of Jesus Christ.

My take on this lesson ~ turn to the source of all wisdom.  You will only find that through Jesus Christ. 

Thankful for ~

The Lords sharing His wisdom with us ~ through prayer, scriptures, seeking

Godly men who share the attributes of the Lord they have studied

Calmness in the midst of the storms of life

This season of Thanksgiving

The Cloffice

Our farmhouse had an oddball small room outside the master bedroom.  It started out being a sitting room/office, but we never quite liked it.  And our closets in the bedroom were really small.  We had talked about knocking walls down, rearranging the bathroom, enlarging the bedroom etc.  But that all costs a lot of money.  We ended up not doing anything until we sold the Mississippi house.  2 weekends ago, we decided it should be a cloffice.....closet/office ~ Greg came up with the name cause he is creative like that!  We hauled out stuff and made 2 trips to IKEA over the weekend.  (Lesson learned ~ don't go on Saturday....its crazy busy in there.)  Here is the result ~

We kept the carpet and the plaid wallpaper.  Changed out some pictures and organized all our clothes.  Summer and winter clothes will fit in the drawers, on hangers, and in the baskets.  The only clothes stuck up in the attic (which has pull down stairs above the desk) are the "don't fit" clothes.

When we get past Thanksgiving, we will begin taking our old closets apart and turning that into a sitting area with our love seat and end tables, book cases should fit too.  Those pictures will be coming later! 

Thankful for~

not having to pack up seasonal clothes
creativity
have IKEA close by
finances being freed up by a house sale

Essentially Monday

Household Recipes for using your Essential Oils ~

Essential Oil Bleach

1 1/2 cups peroxide
1/2 cup lemon juice
10-12 drops lemon oil

Place the above ingredients in a brown or blue bottle with a spray lid ~ fill the remaining space in bottle with water.  Shake gently to combine ingredients.  Shake before using on your stained clothing.  (Peroxide breaks down over time if not protected from the light ~ that's why its sold in brown bottles at retailers!)

DIY 409 type Spray

1/4 cup vinegar
1 3/4 cup water
15 drops each lavender and lemon

Add to a glass spray bottle and shake gently.  This works great on kitchen counters ~ I use it on my granite countertops.  Spray on and wipe off with a paper towel.

Disinfectant Spray

1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup water
15 drops rosemary essential oil (eo)
25 drops orange eo
15 drops eucalyptus eo
15 drops lavender eo

Gently mix all ingredients into a glass spray bottle, shake gently, then its ready to use.

And why use glass bottles?  Essential oils are strong and they will react adversely to plastic.  You can use clear glass bottle, like the ones vinegar come in, but you will need to cover the bottle with tape or paper, etc.  to the light doesn't break down the oils affect.  This is a fun project to do with all the decorative duct tape that's around these days!  Or you can order brown or blue glass bottles in different sizes online.

Happy mixing ~ oh, I have made and used the first 2 recipes with success, but haven't tried the last one yet.

Thankful for ~

more natural ingredients to use in our home without all the chemicals
people who come up with these recipes and share them

Its Finally Here!

We have waited a long time for fall....and  its finally here.

Sweaters,  socks,  quilts, hot drinks, crunchy leaves to walk in, warm bowls of soup, snuggling under the covers, cozy nights at home.

We haven't had any rain in about a month.  Its very dry.  We are getting smoke from the N. Carolina wild fires.  So some days it isn't pleasant to be outside.

With fall came the presidential election ~  I will just say ~ I didn't think either candidate was the best either party had to offer.  But the election and its results are over.  The looting, rioting, crying college students, etc. is childish and a complete waste of time.  Get over it and move on.  Only one could win. 

While the blogging is slowing down, life is moving along at a rapid pace. 

We are wedding planning and starting to craft.  Greg is working on his 2nd sermon for church ~ to be given the Sunday before Christmas.  We are gearing up for Thanksgiving ~ excited for my Marine nephew to be here for the holiday.  Packed our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child last week with my mom, sister, niece and Amy.  Greg is redoing the office into a huge walk in closet with an office corner ~ pictures coming!  Amy signed up to sell Jamberry Nails ~ super cute nail wraps ~ another post on that coming. 

So lots going on and tons to be thankful for!

Essentially Monday

We are adding to our family arsenal of Essential Oils ~ the benefits contained in these little brown bottles is amazing.

Here are some more products we are using ~

Clary Calm is a new one for me to try.  What sold me ~ cooling, soothing, balance emotions~

dōTERRA ClaryCalm® is a proprietary blend of CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils that provides a soothing and calming effect during a woman's menstrual cycle. A topical blend of Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Fennel, Carrot Seed, Palmarosa and Vitex, ClaryCalm provides a cooling, soothing effect to the skin and helps balance emotions.


dōTERRA On Guard®, a proprietary essential oil blend, provides a natural and effective alternative for immune support.* As one of dōTERRA’s best-selling blends, dōTERRA On Guard protects against environmental and seasonal threats with essential oils known for their positive effects on the immune system.* dōTERRA On Guard can be taken internally on a daily basis to maintain healthy immune function and support healthy cardiovascular function.* It can also be used on surfaces throughout the home as a non-toxic cleaner.*

We have started adding a drop of this blend  to our vegie capsule daily for a boost to our immune system.  The weather is finally cooling down!

Purify is an exclusive combination of essential oils that purify and eradicate odors in a natural, safe way. This uplifting blend combines citrus and pine essential oils that leave an airy, fresh scent on surfaces and in the air. A favorite among dōTERRA users, Purify can replace foul odors quickly and be an effective cleaner throughout the home. For aromatic or topical use.

This is not an oil I particularly like the scent of ~ but diffusing it in our home, successfully takes care of pet odors associated with having indoor dogs.  And it can be used topically on bug bites to take care of the sting and itch.....works great!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The link to my online store is http://mydoterra.com/jacksonsessentialoils.

Thankful Thursday

I haven't been on here in a couple of weeks for Thankful Thursday ~  here goes

I am thankful that~~~~~

our house in Mississippi finally closed!

we had dinner with our little buddies last Thursday ~ it was a surprise for them

we got to visit with and hug 2 special friends in Miss. who recently lost their wives

we spent the day with Austin and his parents on Saturday

we were granted safe travel to and from MS

Amy, Granny and I were able to vote early

that I can "attend" online classes for essential oils & other interests

for Amy's new business venture ~ she became a jamberry consultant yesterday

for crunchy leaves to walk in

for a hint of coolness in the air

for the anticipation of Thanksgiving with our family

for grocery store holiday sales!

Wedding Wednesday

Big News~

We found a venue ~ we all love it ~ Granny, Amy and I went yesterday and booked it!  The wedding will be on a Sunday ~ mainly because they book 13 months out and every Saturday is booked in the fall.

This area is 120 ft long.  It will be our ceremony area!

We love the beautiful details and craftsmanship in this building.  The park is the oldest state park in the nation.  The stone pavilion where we will have the ceremony was built during FRD's administration by the CCC.  Amy is sitting in one of the wide window cut outs.  We saw a wedding party here a couple of weeks ago and they had large potted mums in the window sills ~ beautiful. 

We did opt for a date in October.  And we rented another "inside" building for the reception/party afterwards....just in case of wet or windy, cold weather.

I goggled GA State Parks and then searched for ones with wedding venues.  As soon as I saw this beautiful building I knew it was the one ~ I showed it to Amy and in her words "this is it"!  Austin and his parents haven't seen it in person but they loved the pictures.

Before I searched, I had never heard of this park or even heard of the town it was located in ~ turns out, its 1 hour and 1 minutes from our home!!  Now that is cool.

The out of town guests ~ or guests that just want to stay the weekend can tent camp, rv camp, rent a cabin or stay in one of the hotels  minutes away.  We opted for the cabin stay.

*We were in Mississippi last weekend and spent Saturday shopping with Austin and his family.  They found what the groomsmen will wear and then set up a wedding registry at Belk.  Things are progressing right along! 

The next 12 months will go by pretty quickly!

Thankful for ~

a beautiful venue
an excited bride and groom
fun times together
another item checked off the "to do" list