You Are Welcome Here

These images are from a few weeks ago. Just another Sunday afternoon.

 We've been really trying to protect our Sundays as a family, to honor the Sabbath and to rest and enjoy time together. I used to have Sundays open for a photo session but after a discussion with Jason regarding our year of faith, and the simplicity of God honoring us by honoring him... well, it was no question that he would provide the difference in removing one day of work (when there's only two, that's a big cut!). And of course He has.  We haven't looked back or even noticed a difference. 

In fact, he's blessed us in mighty ways!

Tomorrow Jason and I leave our small tribe to hit the beaches of Yelapa, Mexico with a group of four friends (six of us total).  We are elated.  This has been in the works for over six months and the Lord has provided every cent for it along the way, in fact, he's the one that told us to go.

 Aside from experiencing a bit of rest away from the daily tasks and demands of being a mother, I am really looking forward to being with Jason and being in the Word.  There are not a lot of amenities in Yelapa...and the six of us chose it partly because of that (well and the fantastic locally grown food it's supposed to offer).
Rest. Reflection. 

I have high expectations for the Lord on this trip.  That sounds funny.  But if he's the one that started this, He's sure to meet all of us in a powerful way.  We are leaving with arms wide open.

Ready.

"Holy Spirit you are welcome here.

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for.
To be overcome by your presence, Lord".

-lyrics from Rend Collective

I want to stick to my commitment of posting weekly food staples, though, so there will be a scheduled post coming out later this week... one of my favorite, easiest, healthy meals that everyone in our family devours, so stay tuned!

Adios amigos!

In the Kitchen: Natural Toothpaste

This week we are making toothpaste!

Everything can be found in your kitchen cabinets. 

No fluoride. No chemicals. No preservatives. No fillers.
And ps, it's cheaper...SCORE!

If you haven't read the label of your toothpaste, I suggest you do.  Standard toothpaste has all types of harmful ingredients including formaldehyde, detergent, paraffin, glycerin glycol, saccharin, food coloring and all types of artificial flavors.

Here's what you will need:

- 6 tsp Baking Soda (we use Bob's Red Mill as it's guaranteed to be food grade... others are fine, but there is rumored to be a difference in processing).

-1/4 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide 

-2 Tbsp Coconut Oil (make sure it's in liquid form for mixing)

-10-12 drops of  high quality Peppermint Essential Oil

-Stevia to taste (start with just a sprinkle!)

I am super excited to be introducing to you a new (to me) company of high quality essential oils... I'll be doing a whole post on them and why I prefer them over the other two bigger brands (just hint, there's a price difference, but not a quality difference!!)... but that's for another time. If you are looking for oils in the meantime, please look up Native American Nutritionals. 

An awesome reader suggested them to me and my commitment-phobia self and I'm not turning back!

Back to the toothpaste...mix all ingredients together.

Transfer mixture to a glass jar.

Either put in the fridge or let it sit at a cooler room temperature to let the mix harden a bit.

The texture is not much different than toothpaste.

It's a tiny bit runnier, and you can fix that by adding more baking soda, but your kids may not approve.

Store in an air tight container, keep a small spoon available and brush away!
It may take a little while to get used to...like everything else, a leap into natural may come as a shock, so if it helps, mix some of your current toothpaste with it.

Gradually wean off of the chemicals and on to what's naturally effective.

And there you have it!