Sunday, March 8, 2015

The New Farm



   Something about installing a mailbox seems to make it official. We closed on our new/old farm almost two weeks ago. Although we have MUCH work to do, we are excited to have had the opportunity to buy this place.

This old homestead was built in the 1880s. It's been in the same family since it was built until now. Three generations were born in the house. I'm sure there were many moments of laughter and many of tears. It's full of history. The house was built with a crossway dogtrot to allow the air to move throughout the house. Although there was much more land originally, we purchased the place with 95 acres. Talk about enlarging your tents! There are numerous old barns, some salvageable and some not, 3 ponds and a creek. There's also an old windmill that we hope to be able to get back to working. It was the first in the county "back in the day." Much of the land is open and rolling but there are wooded areas throughout. On one end of the property there is a nice rocky hill that at one time hosted a bluegrass festival for many years. There are still the remains of some of the old booths and the stage. If you close your eyes you can almost hear the sound of the fiddles, banjos and mandolins drifting on the wind. We feel so blessed to be able to bring this place back to life!

Our internet service is not reliable but we hope to be able to post the restoration process here on the blog. We hope you follow along with us on this new journey.


And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
Isaiah 58:12



Monday, January 19, 2015

Cramped Quarters and the Wintertime Bug



   Usually in our family when one person gets sick it trickles down the line no matter how hard we try to isolate ourselves. In a camper, there is no isolation! Over the last week we have each had our turn with headaches, fever and coughing. No fun seeing that we actually had a beautiful week with warmer days that we couldn't even enjoy. Instead, we sat in bed sipping hot tea and snoozing.

I'm not sure what we've had but I treated it like the common cold or flu. Lots of Vitamin C tablets, Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, Oregano essential oil and raw honey from our bees. I also made garlic oil and rubbed it on our feet before bedtime and rubbed RC and Raven essential oil blends on our chests throughout the day to help with coughing and congestion. This and lots of hot tea did the trick. And Jesus of course. Where would we be without Him?

So now besides a little coughing we are good to go and can enjoy the sunshine and beautiful days while they last. Except for dad. He's just starting to fill poorly. Hopefully we can nip it in the bud before it progresses. Curious of our treatment regimen? Here it is below...


Needed:
Vitamin C tablets (500mg)
100% Pure Oregano essential oil (AKA Oil of Oregano, we use Young Living)
Organic apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
RC and Raven essential oil blends (available through Young Living Essential Oils)
Raw honey
Fresh garlic
Olive oil
And of course...a dose of prayer and a little pinch of faith

-Vitamin C every 2 hrs until reaching bowel tolerance then reduced to half doses.

-1 drop of oregano EO in a spoonful of honey every 2 hrs. (Elderberry syrup can also be used and is an excellent immune booster but we didn't have any.)

-1 TBSP honey each hr. (or Elderberry syrup, 1/2 TBSP for the kids)

- 1 TBSP ACV diluted in about 8 oz water every 3 hrs.

-Garlic oil rubbed heavily on the bottom of  the feet before bedtime and covered with socks. (mince fresh garlic, cover with olive oil and let sit for a few hrs then strain.)

-RC and Raven rubbed on the chest and back as needed.

Lots of brothy soup and water, water, water!

Why Vitamin C? It's an immune booster and is an important vitamin and antioxidant that the body uses to keep us strong and healthy. Our body doesn't make vitamin C so it must be obtained through our diet.

Oregano? The essential oil of oregano has been found to be a powerful anti-viral. Wait....viruses can't be treated and they have to "run their course." Not so! 


What does organic apple cider vinegar do? It alkalizes the body and helps to destroy any yeast in the body that can be feeding infection.


Honey? And why "raw" honey? Where do I start...when raw, it's full of great things and is a wonderful addition to our daily diet. Such as antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. It's also the best thing ever for soothing a sore throat and calming a cough. (Not recommended for children under 1 yr) When processed all these wonderful enzymes die and the honey loses its therapeutic benefits.


What does garlic do besides make me smell like Italian food? It's an immune booster and works as an antibiotic killing infecting bacteria. Why on the bottom of the feet? Anything applied to the soles of the feet absorbs into the bloodstream in 22 minutes. 


What is RC and Raven?? These are essential oil blends that include a variety of essential oils that are beneficial to respiratory infections. Such as 3 different types of Eucalyptus, Wintergreen, Myrtle, Lavender, Cypress, Peppermint, and Ravensara, just to  name a few. Also anti-viral. 




" Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health..."
3 John 1:2 NIV




 (Please keep in mind that this is how WE treated our sickness and I am by no means recommending treatment to anyone else.)

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Camper Living




   It's been a while since I've posted and there's much to update. Our home sold to a nice young family who we hope enjoys loving and living there as much as we did. We made the move to our new destination about a month ago. We're living in our RV right now at a quiet little campground while we wait. Wait on closing on our new place. We found an old farm that is just waiting for someone to bring it back to life. It chose us. We're in the process of purchasing it now and if all goes well we will be closing within the next week or so. Details to come.

Camper living...yes we're doing it. There are folks in our family that think we're crazy, think we'll freeze, and think I'll pull my hair out. There have been a couple of times that I've questioned myself but actually it's not that bad. We are keeping the bare minimal as far as clothes, dishes, books... Everything else is in storage and we'll rotate items as needed. Organization is a must. I hate clutter so we have to work hard at staying tidy and orderly. Schooling, bath time, cooking.. these can all be a challenge but we're working together and making it happen. I met a lady at church last Sunday who has eight children and one on the way and guess what? They are living in a camper! If they can do it we surely can! So, onward we go!

I've been asked if we're homesick. Yes and no. Up to now I personally have been doing ok. Yes, I've missed seeing my family who lived near us. We are used to seeing them on a regular basis so that is taking some getting used to. And we're much further from the rest of our family who we already had many miles between us and now there's even more. So this will all take some adjusting. But actually "homesick" I haven't been. Until this morning. I had a friendly reminder of what we left behind by my daughter's pet cockatiel who started the day with "whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will..." You see, on nice days Cocoa would spend time on the front porch enjoying the company of the many wild birds that made our place their home. He began mimicking many of them. His favorite? The Whip-poor-will. This morning while Cocoa was singing his borrowed song I got a little ache for home. I missed waking up to a quiet house and walking to my front door to greet the morning. I'd see the sun peaking through the leaves of my trees and hear the birds singing their morning songs. It was my favorite time of day. There it was...homesickness. It rose up and then it was gone. Then it came again, and then it was gone again. It was like little waves of sadness. But, I know that the Lord has great things for us. He's never led us astray and He won't start now. So when I feel these little aches for home I will pick my head up and look to the future that God has for us. I know it's filled with greatness or He wouldn't have brought us here.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11