I see her everywhere. She is in Target with her newborn in a stroller (loaded down with 25 million things just in case she needs something), venturing out for the first time. Scared to death by the responsibility of this tiny person. She is at Chick-fil-a trying to entertain her rambunctious 20 month old while her baby nurses, wondering if she will ever eat a warm bite of food again. She is at the park trying to convince a stubborn 2 year old and 4 year old that it is time to go while a baby screams in the stroller, kept out well past his naptime in her effort to give her older kids some time to play. She is praying she can hold it together long enough to just make it to the car. She is the mom of young kids and she is drowning. She is convinced she will never get through this time. She has no idea how everyone else survives. She is frozen in the crashing waves and cannot see the shore. I was that mom. The months after Sterling, my second son, was born were some of the darkest of mylife. I was so overwhelmed. I was worried I had made a mistake in taking on two children, that I had pushed my luck, that I was never going to be able to manage. We were living 7 hours away from family. Paul was working constantly and often gone for days or weeks at a time out to sea. Sterling was so miserably sick. I spent hours holding a hurting baby, many in the middle of the night. We went to 2-3 doctor’s appointments a week. Every outing was an ordeal. The days were so long and I was drowning. One day Paul came home from work to find me locked in our bedroom sobbing. I had struggled with Sterling to get him to sleep that day while Wyatt, 15 months old at the time, threw a tantrum. I had hit my breaking point. When he entered the room I was overcome with emotion. “What have I done?” “how am I going to manage?” “What if it never gets better?” I could not see the end to the crashing waves and I was convinced I would never breathe again. I wept before the Lord and he heard my cry. Hemet me there, face down on my bedroom floor and covered me in grace. Life got better. I found my groove. I poured myself into research and became my child’s advocate and we were able to find a happy normal (I so wish I would have had back then). I began to figure out how to navigate life with 2 little boys and a husband who was often gone. I began to see the shore. Life didn’t necessarily get easier, in a lot of ways it got harder, (not long after we moved across the country only for Paul to deploy 10 days later and I spent the next 8 months alone in an unknown place) but the Lord showed me repeatedly his grace was sufficient. I learned something during those months. I cannot do motherhood alone, I need a savior. I learned that God is victorious even in the darkest times. I also learned to live in grace. With the addition of each baby I have been able to let some things go. The house is not as clean these days. Sometimes the dinner is not gourmet. I’ve accepted that it is okay for myolder boys to watch TV while I feed a baby or for my baby to miss a nap so we can go to the aquarium. I no longer attempt to say yes to everything. I am home more. This is where God has called me to be. He is sanctifying me as a mother.   Even with 4 young boys, I have never struggled as much as I did in those days. The days are still long. I still feel the waves sometimes, but those months gave me an anchor in the Lord that I had never experienced before. He gives me strength to get through each day, to encourage other moms who are treading water and wondering if they are cut out for this job, that He is there. He loves your children more than you do and made you their mother. His grace is sufficient. If you are there right now can I encourage you to do a couple things? Spend time with the Lord. I am going to be 100% honest and tell you I struggle with this. I am a night owl and cannot imagine a world where I wake up early willingly and often times by the end of the night find I haveleft out intentional time with the Lord. But I do make a conscious effort to seek the Lord throughout the day. I pray in the shower or while I am driving and the boys are preoccupied. I pray in response to my sin and lack of patience. Every day I pray for grace. It can make a HUGE difference in the course of your day. Make your husband a priority. I know often times that piece of advice sounds like one more thing on our plate as moms, but I promise is you it will bring you joy. Make date night a necessity. I know you love your kids and think they need you all the time, but a couple of hours away each week or every other week will not hurt them, it will help them. It will help them because they will find security in seeing their parents making time for each other. Date night rejuvenates me. It helps me remember that I am more than just a mommy covered in spit up, being pulled 15 million directions each day. It reminds me that I am someones bride and our marriage is the reason we havethese amazing, loving, crazy, loud children. Make sex multiple times a week a priority too. Even if you don’t feel like it, doing it will make you feel closer to your husband and more supported as you tackle each day. He will also be happier. Simply remember to talk to each other. Cut yourself some slack. Do not buy into this lie that everything has to be perfect all the time. It is okay if you cannot keep the floors constantly clean or the laundry caught up. It is okay if your kids are not involved in every extracurricular activity. It is okay to just relax and enjoy your family. Set realistic goals about what you think you can get done and then let the rest of it go. Talk to your husband about his expectations and these goals so you both recognize the changes children bring. Perfection is a recipe for heartache and exhaustion. Your children want you, not a spotless house.   If this is you. If you don’t know how you are going to manage. If you feel like motherhood is too hard. Takehope. Things will get better. You will began to look at your beautiful mess of a life and see the grace of God woven throughout. God called us to this life. He has us here for such a time as this to lead these children to the gospel. It gets so much easier and their is immense joy if you let go and let Him lead.       No one likes to talk about weight. It is a dreaded topic. Many of us struggle with our weight. I know I do. I have had 4 babies in 5 years and these last couple of months I have had a really hard time getting back to where I want to be. I 100% know that eating right and exercising are the key to healthy weight loss. They are important and I would never tell you otherwise, but sometimes we could use a little extra help. I am here to tell you that Young Living Essential Oils can help with weight loss too!! That’s right, those oils you love so much that help with colds, allergies, sleep, etc can help you shed some pounds. And let’s just be clear one more time… I am ONLYtalking about Young Living here. They are the only quality I trust and use on my family, but they are also listed as safe to ingest. Lemon, Peppermint, and Grapefruit are the 3 oils we so lovingly like to refer to as the “weight loss trio”. They are a simple bunch but in my experience they really work. helps you detox. It helps flush our system of toxins and increases water intake. I like to drink lemon in my water for flavor but I really notice a difference in my energy and how I feel when I am taking this oil in a capsule. aids in digestion and helps curb appetite. This can be really beneficial in helping you make healthy choices throughout the day. It also helps me stay “regular”. I know, that is so embarrassing to talk about, but I struggle in this area (even with spinach smoothies and other healthy foods) and when I am taking peppermint everything stays on track, no gas pains and no tummy issues. Peppermint is also great for energy. (Did you notice that the 2 oils listed so farare also a part of the o? Yep. I love how oils overlap like that. It makes life a bit easier and is just another reason why the is such a great value.) Finally there is grapefruit. Grapefruit is a great metabolism booster. I notice I am a bit hungrier when I take grapefruit, but I also see results when it is included in my regimen. What kind of results? You might ask. Well, I am still early in this journey. I have had oils for a while but I have not had the motivation to make the changes to go with the oils. Because I was struggling to get my act together I refused to waste my oils if I wasn’t willing to work. Now I am! I started 3 weeks ago and have lost 4.5 pounds. That is about 2-2.5 more than I usually lose in that time period. I still have about 10-15 pounds to go until I am at my ideal weight, but I think adding oils is really going to help me get there! But let me tell you about my friend Robin. Her results are INCREDIBLE and have completely motivated me to get my act together.Robin is a runner. She runs 40-50 miles a week. She eats clean and counts her calories (or points if you are a WW fan). She is the poster child (woman) for great health, but over the last 7 years she has struggled to lose the last 10 pounds to get back into the 130′s. She has tried everything but those pounds wouldn’t budge. After I told her about the weight loss trio she thought “why not” and started taking these 3 oils daily in a capsule almost 2 months ago. Not only has she lost those 10 pounds, she has lost 12!! She hasn’t been this weight in years and the only thing she has done differently is added the oils to her day. I will also add, I am trying out our massage oil Cel-Lite Magic as well to combat cellulite on my legs. I can really notice a difference in how firm and toned my skin looks after using it after my shower. I will let you know what I think in a couple of months. If you are on a weight loss journey and looking for something to kick your diet and exercise up a notch,why not give oils a try? I know countless other women that are feeling better from taking lemon, peppermint, and grapefruit in a capsule daily and getting results anywhere from mine to Robin’s to 40+ pounds. I hope to be hearing yours in the future too! Mom’s come to me all the time and say “I would love to try essential oils, but I just don’t think I could learn how to use them”. Or they have ordered a kit, but find themselves staring at the box, not even knowing where to begin. They think there is no way they could learn how to implement the use of oils on a daily basis. Essential oils don’t have to be a difficult tool to use. Once you develop a routine, they are actually quite easy to use. So I decided to show this by giving everyone a peek into our daily lives and how I reach for my oils through out the day. This list is not comprehensive and I do use oils for lots of other things, but these are the things I use oils for the most. I think you will find that the extra step of usingessential oils is well worth the benefit. Start Our Day Off Right One of my favorite things to do in the mornings is put 4 drops each of and in the diffuser in the kitchen. It sets the tone for a happy mood for the whole family and makes the house smell fresh and clean. For WHEN Someone Gets Hurt Another way I use oils almost daily with 4 little boys, is for injuries. In a house with little boys constantly rough housing, someone always has a cut, scrape, or bruise. I keep close by for any injury that may cause swelling or bruising and it really cuts down the healing time. I use whenever there is blood or an open wound. Instead of demanding bandaids for every “owie” my boys demand oils. I always try to have these 2 oils with me because we all know little boys are going to get scraped up everywhere you go. I personally apply 1-2 drops of these oils neat (undiluted) to the boys in these situations, but you can always dilute with coconut oil to be extra careful. (This is Briggs at thebreakfast table after getting Lavender on his forehead to reduce the bruise from a parking lot fall the day before.) To Help Them Breathe Easy If anyone in your family struggles with respiratory issues, I always recommend having Breathe Again roll on and RC on hand. RC was the first oil I ever tried to help with my youngest son’s chronic congestion, but finding these 2 oils has changed our lives in regards to our second son, Sterling, who has asthma. Before oils he would come to me struggling to breathe or saying he is “tired and needs to rest” anytime he tried to go play outside. I would immediately get the inhaler. Now I am able to help him breathe clearly by simply rolling Breathe Again on his chest, back, and feet. I also like to rub RC on his chest, neck, and feet and diffuse it when he is struggling with sickness or a little extra chest congestion. RC is always my go to option if any of my boys are struggling with cough or congestion. For Energy and Weight Loss water is great forenergy and to flush your body of toxins. It is simple to make and I like to put 1 or 2 drops in my glass of water through out the day to help with weight loss and increase my water intake. When Pain Strikes As a mom of 4 kids I get headaches. It is a fact of life and often times I need a quick fix because I don’t have time to lie down. Deep relief Roll On is that fix. I have gotten rid of so many headaches in minutes by simply rolling this oil on my forehead and temples. It is also great for a quick fix for muscle pain or back pain. I love that it is quick and easy, a favorite of both mommy and daddy. So Kids Sleep Ahh, naptime. My favorite time of the day. I have found a wonderful solution for helping my 2 little boys take great naps, Lavender and Cedarwood in the diffuser. I put 2-3 drops of each in and it helps them sleep deeper, longer, and wake up happy. I keep this option on hand especially when our routine is off and they are overtired. All mommies know, that a great nap time isthe greatest thing ever! For When Life Gets Messy I struggle with the constant demand of cleaning my house. I have 4 little people constantly destroying, making the job that much harder. Essential oils have really made my life easier when it comes to cleaning. I use Thieves cleaner in my kitchen, bathrooms, and pretty much everywhere. I also love to keep Lemon on hand for removing sticky residue, paint, crayon, and so much more. This particular day Paul had done the dishes for me. This pot had been left on the burner too long and had been scrubbed twice and left to soak 2 nights in a row with dish soap. He was ready to throw it away! When he asked what he should do, I suggested a couple of drops of lemon oil. 2 minutes later I wiped it out with a paper towel (no scrubbing necessary) and this is the result. Pretty amazing. To Keep The Germs Away Right before bedtime is one of my favorite times of the day for oiling up my boys. I like to rub Thieves on their feet each night, especiallyif they have been exposed to other kids or sickness. is wonderful for boosting immunity and keeping them well. I dilute it with coconut oil (about 1 teaspoon for 1-2 drops) and rub it on the bottoms of their feet after bath time. I also add other oils to their nighttime routine sometimes. I like to rub behind their ears or Cedarwood and Lavender on the bottoms of their feet and chests. Oils are often requested and even Briggs, who is not yet two, shouts hooray when the oils come out. For Sweet Dreams And then there was quiet. Ahhh sweet quiet. I love nighttime. I can sit and think in peace. I am in control of the TV. I can eat without having to share a bite. The time after 8 o’clock is a balm to my soul. Before Young Living Essential Oils I would not have told you I had a sleep problem. I got in bed, took about 20-30 minutes to fall asleep, and then tossed and turned a bit until morning (usually touching Paul once or twice to get him to roll over and stop snoring). But then we got our. Let me tell you, we are having the best sleep of our lives! Paul has stopped snoring. I fall asleep quicker. We both sleep better and feel more rested in the morning. Every night I set our diffuser up by our bed with 3-4 drops each of Lavender, Peace and Calming, and . Turn it on with the light off, and we both enjoy amazing . My whole point of writing this is to show you that most of the ways I use oils everyday are pretty simple. It is quick and efficient to use a roller bottle. It is easy to pour water and some drops in the diffuser and turn it on. It is simple to rub some oil on your skin. Once you know which oils to use in certain situations, it becomes second nature to reach for your oils. Let me encourage you, if fear of learning how to use essential oils is what is holding you back, please don’t that that deter you. You absolutely can use Young Living Essential Oils. Commit to learn one new use every couple of days and before you know it those will be effortless. Utilize theinformation already on this site to read and learn about which oils to use in certain situations. Ask me questions. Essential oils have been an amazing tool in helping my family be more healthy in a more natural way. I promise you can make the switch too. This past weekend we had my oldest son Wyatt’s 5th birthday party. We had a blast and enjoyed having our friends over to celebrate, but in the planning I was confronted once again with a glaringly obvious fact. I am not a Pinterest mom. There I said it. I let you into my imperfect world. Pinterest for me is a breeding ground for insecurity. It shows me pin after pin everything I am not. I will never create a pin for DIY curtains or pillows because you know what? I don’t even sew. I will never create pins for boys bedroom decor because we move every 18 months and my boys’ rooms look like this. I bought the new bedspread for that bed 2 months ago and haven’t even put it on yet… sad, I know. I will never create a pin about 10 ways to getyour body ready for bathing suit season because I struggle with my own body in a bathing suit and haven’t quite figured out how to manage 4 boys and the gym 4-5 times a week. I will never create pins about scrap booking, wall murals, etc because y’all, I can barely remember to take a picture much less put them in a book. I will never create pins for craft projects of any kind because I hate to craft. I missed the artistic boat. I will probably never create pins with amazing recipes because, while I am a pretty good cook, I rarely come up with the idea on my own. I have mastered the art of replicating others ideas ( is my hero!). But you know what? It is ok. We live in a society that expects stay at home moms to look like pinterest moms. That if you are not “working” then you should have it all together at home. I think we as moms are the biggest part of the problem. We have allowed social media to feed us this lie that good moms are able to do all these things and if you can’t thenyour kids suffer. In reality we all have our strengths and weaknesses. We all have the areas we excel and the areas where we struggle (or have little desire to excel). I may not craft or make my own curtains, but I love to do our taxes and keep track of our finances. I am also shaping up to be a pretty good business woman. I may not have scrapbooks filled with pictures, but I make a concerted effort to do fun things with my boys. I choose to be present instead of behind a camera. I may not have a perfectly decorated home, but I open it up to serving our friends and family as much as possible. I may not have a perfect body or feel super confident in a bathing suit, but I enjoy life and food. My husband loves me just the way that I am and I love and serve him well. I may not paint or do crafts with my kids, but we spend hours outside doing other things. We swim. We jump on the trampoline. We play with friends. I may not be a pinterest mom, but I am a child of God. He chose me to be mommyto these 4 amazing boys. He gave me my strengths and carries me in my weaknesses. He gives me a husband, church, friends, a homeschooling community, and so much more to fill in the gaps. My sweet friend Jana gave Wyatt a paint set for his birthday. We have never owned paint. It scares me. She knows this but decided to give it anyways. When Paul told me about it he said “you are going to be thrilled with this one” , but you know what, I am. Because sometimes we need other types of moms in our lives to push us, to suggest new things, and to encourage us to leave our comfort zone. Instead of seeing my pinterest board as a myriad of things I can’t do, maybe I should see it as a push to try new things. Instead of feeling inadequate, maybe I should feel encouraged that someone else has done the creative work for me and I can just copy them. Instead of dwelling on the things I don’t do, maybe I need to focus on doing the things I can do well. God has a plan and purpose for my life. He hascalled me to be a mom. He has called us to homeschool. He has made me just the way that I am. Today I am deciding to focus on the things he has blessed me with instead of letting a bunch of pictures on the internet tell me I am not good enough. And today, we paint!     As women, we often worry about our skin and appearance. We spend tons of money in the course of our lives on washes, moisturizers, wrinkle creams, etc and if we have issues with our skin it can be even more. One wonderful thing about having essential oils on hand is they have replaced almost all my skin care. The same goes for my mom, sister and so many other friends who have started using Young Living Essential Oils. I am so excited to share with you some of the ways you can use oils in your skin care. Eczema I personally have never suffered from eczema but know several others that have. Young Living Essential Oils have been wonderful at helping them get rid of flares and clear up their skin. There are a couple of greatoptions for treating eczema on yourself and your loved ones. Lavender is a great for this. is the oil I use for all other types of rashes (diaper, heat, etc) and with the right carrier can be very effective at clearing up eczema. Some other great options for eczema are Melrose, German Chamomille, Lemon, Geranium, and Sandalwood. Rose ointment is not specifically an essential oil, but is a cream carried by Young Living and so wonderful for clearing up all kinds of skin issues as well. One thing to remember with eczema and other skin care is that the carrier oil matters. My family doesn’t struggle with sensitive skin so coconut oil is our carrier of choice majority of the time. I have even had great luck with it on my face. But for those with bad eczema and those that struggle with oily skin or are prone to acne, you might want to consider a carrier with a lower comedogenic rating. My mother swears by Jojoba oil. Grapeseed oil is another one I always have on hand. So if the oil you areusing is not making a difference immediately, always consider switching carriers or even applying neat to see if that helps the situation better. Acne is wonderful for acne. Any time my husband or I get a hint of a pimple a dab of purification will get rid of it very quickly. Adding frankincense to your skin care routine can also help with the healing of acne and the scars acne has left behind. I also like to keep Melaleuca and Melrose on hand to aid with clear skin. Wrinkles, Sun Spots, and Discoloration Y’all, there is a reason the wise men brought to Jesus… this stuff is amazing! My mother has replaced all of her expensive day and night creams with Frankincense and Orange mixed in Jojoba oil. Her skin looks the best it has in years. Her wrinkles are fewer, her pores are smaller and her tone has evened out. Frankincense is also wonderful for getting rid of sun spots, redness, and I even know people personally who have had skin cancer spots shrink from using Frankincense. Moles andWarts Essential Oils can also be really effective at getting rid of moles and warts. Frankincense and Oregano both work really well for this. The best way to do this is to apply a carrier oil like coconut oil to the skin around the wart and then apply the essential oil neat directly to the wart. The oils basically eat away at the mole or wart, so it might cause some discomfort, but it is very effective. Even if you don’t struggle with one of these issues, essential oils can be used to simply give you brighter, healthier skin. I love the lemon/lime sugar scrub for exfoliation and skin brightening. Coconut oil or shea butter with lavender whipped in make a great body lotion. Purification and orange mixed with a carrier make an excellent daily facial moisturizer. There are so many possibilities with Young Living Essential Oils. Many of these oils come in the , which is such an amazing deal and makes you a wholesale member with Young Living. Just another reason to take the plunge and gofor the whole kit!   2 …