Life's roller coaster...

As I sat to reflect this morning, it occured me that I should have been a poster child for the 70's! HA!  Although my family lives our lives as most did many years ago, I am finding people look at us as though we have a third eye growing out of our foreheads!  I laugh at how those who knew my life prior to living in Missouri, must see me now!  We grow a huge garden every year(even though the last 3 years have been mostly mud & weeds!), I learned to can and freeze the food we grow, I have worked toward making our food/life all natural, and am even studying to be a Natural Health Consultant.  Does this make me a delayed "flower child?" Maybe....but I see it as making more conscious of my surroundings, more healthy for my family, and less dependent on a royally messed up world. 

As I read through FaceBook, and emails from friends and extended family....I have to rub my head!  The life style has begun moving at break neck speeds, life revolves around McD's/Burger King/Fast Food, and cramming as much into one day as possible.  All the while, missing the whole point in life.  The term "stop and smell the roses...." yeah, it really does mean just that!  Take 5 seconds to just breathe!  We put so much focus on stressing over things we can't control, trying to make our kids more educated(in turn making them dumber!) taking God out of schools, and home, allowing our schools to teach that discipline is abuse,  and in general just becoming so stressed that health is declining, and so are relationships.  The world has honestly gone mad!  Mad, I tell you!

I began my "step-outside-the-box," life when I married my husband and we had our Son.  Although I tried working outside home in the beginning, I just couldn't do it.  I couldn't let a babysitter/daycare raise my child.  I know there are many that do not have that choice.  We did, and we made MANY sacrifices for it.  We decided I would stay home to raise our son.  Although that has not always been easy, and there were many times we could have used an extra income, we did it.  By the time our son was just a few months old, I realized that doctors don't know everything and most of the advice they give comes from a book....not life experience.  That, and learning to be a stay-at-home mom, I would say were the beginning  of my life as an outside-the-box adult.  (As a back story, I grew up with parents on opposite ends of the spectrum, in regards to doctors.  One chose to go to doctors and regard their opinions, the other chose not to go unless you were dying!)  So, where does this leave me?  LOL!  As the "flower child of my extended family!" : D

As my son grew, and more was changing in the lines of health care, I quickly discovered that I didn't like direction it was taking.  I did not like the fact that we inject viruses, poisons, and bacteria intentionally into our children.  I didn't like that insurance companies were literally in charge of the care you received, nor the high prices they charged to be non-educated in medicine but allowed to practice medicine in terms of what they allowed or did not allow you and your doctor to do medically.  This came to a head, so to speak, when I had my run-in with cancer.  26 years old, a 1 year old baby and the diagnosis of cervical cancer.  I had a fantastic doctor, that I still trust today, that helped me understand it and helped me to get answers.  In December of 2001, I had an electrical surgery to remove the infected area.  I was terrified, as anyone finding out they have cancer would be.  I went through the surgery, and here I am 10 years later. Along with fear of cancer, I was told I would not be able to have anymore children. Now, however, cancer does not scare me, at least not to the degree I was 10 years ago.  Now, I know there are options out there that do not include surgery, chemo, and radiation.  I have never understood the concept of making people deathly ill, filling them full of radium, and 9 times out of 10 they die from the side effects of those treatments and NOT the cancer itself. 

So, over the years, I had begun studying everything I could find on natural health.  I knew there had to be a better way.  This is not to say that the current medical practices do not have a place, but I personally, don't think they do!  Since I really didn't know much of what to look for, I was very limited as to what I would find, and the internet was not anything close to what it is today!  Over the last 10 years, I have increasingly learned more and more.  By Summer of 2008, we had become a family of natural everything!  We had learned enough, and had the priviledge of meeting a great Natural Health Doctor Joseph Mercola.  That Summer we began using everything natural we could find.  I hadn't felt that good in years!  I had quit smoking, and had begun running.  That July, I found a lump in my left breast.  I was paranoid!  I worried that it was cancer, and I knew that several of my Aunts had had breast issues....but was unsure of what they were.  I had it checked, to find it was a cyst.  (I still have it today!)  I found out in September of 2008, that God's will is much stronger than that of any medical professional.  I found out I was pregnant with our second child.  When I found out...I was almost 5 months along, and I think I spent 2 months crying.  I was beyond the stage of thinking I could take care of another child...and honestly was quite happy having just 1!  Since our regular doctor did not work in the obstetrics area, we had to find an OB.  I had 3 to choose from that practiced in the hospital we knew we would be going to.  The one I chose, I did so because he seemed fairly reasonable when Richard had seen him a few years earlier for an issue.  That poor doctor didn't have a clue what to think of me! I told him we were doing things my way or we would find a doctor that would.  I refused a bunch of tests that I did not feel were necessary.  Since I was pregnant, and there was not an option of abortion, I didn't care to find out if my child had the signs of autism, spina bifida, or an other "dis-ease." I check my sugar on a regular basis anyway, because of low blood sugar, so that was another no-go test.  I refused the flu shot, and pnemonia shot.  The doctor was there specifically if there were a problem!  Haw many years did women have babies without all the garbage they go through now?!  By the time we got to D-Day :) Every doctor, nurse and staff member knew of me.  My doctor was out of town, shock!; )  So, we got the doctor I had wanted anyway.  He said we would do things my way, unless we ran into a problem.  I was good with that.  We found out pretty fast that my cancer surgery had caused massive scar tissue and wouldn't allow for that section of m cervix to thin. I can tell you, that was the most pain I had ever experienced!  Doc had to lift my cervix over our daughter to allow her to be born naturally.  PAIN, was not the word for it!  Anyway, although about 2 weeks late, and without too many other trials, our beautiful little girl was born.  Even though the doctors and nurses were not happy, I went home 12 hours later.  My thought is; I was not sick, there fore I did not need to be in the hospital.  Both our daughter and I were healthy, we needed to be at home bonding with our now bigger family.  We have continued to do more and more natural health, at home.  When our daughter was 4 months, I took her to get her first round of vaccines.  (I did not like the idea of this to begin with, and am completely against it since!)  Our daughter had a severe allergic reaction to these vaccines.  She ran a fever of 102-104 for close to a week, lost almost 6 pounds in a week, and cried continuously.  I can tell you that after that experience, I knew we would be looking into those vaccines.  Come to find out, the base they use for all vaccines was in those 3 vaccines she got.  Since they can not pin point which, if not all, of those vaccines caused such a terrible reactions....she can not have any more vaccines.  THANK GOD!  Needless to say, my son will not be getting them either.  The bases they use contain aluminum, 50 times the EPA and FDA allowances FOR ADULTS!  These bases, are not only disease causing, but at the level they use, can kill a small mammal. 

So, here we are back to the "flower child," category.  I will work with any natural health physician, to treat illnesses as they occur.  The thought of schools, and federal governments telling us we have to poison our children is appalling.  Then I read and find out that the flouride that is pushed on our kids in school, ie swish, is a chemical waste product.  That causes cancer!  We no longer use flouride tootpaste. 

Well, now that you have a brief run-down of the last 12 years of my life.....
We get back to our foods.  Every year we plant a huge garden.  The last 4 have been 60'X70'.  We grow corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions, radishes, carrots, and a lot more!  I learned to art of canning, and freezing fruit and veggies, and meat!  Since my husband is a hunter, we usually have deer and turkey available to substitute our local grown beef and pork.  Now that we are buying our first home, I will have home grown chickens and eggs, ducks and their eggs as well.  I have began learning about herb gardening, after several failed attempts.  Since we won't have a normal Summer this year, due to moving....I am quickly studying up on container gardening, and organic compost.  So, for any of you that come visit us...don't be grossed out by the bucket with the coffee grounds, egg shells, and peelings.  This weekend I will begin my seeds in my little plastic greenhouses.(Thank you Dad & Dee!)  So, you can follow my journey this Summer with the new gardening practices, and all organic fertilizers and compost!

I wish you all a great and healthy life.  You can find your own natural way of life with a little internet research, the old farmers almanac, and a lot of publications. 
God Bless!

Wow! March? Really?!?!

I am amazed by how fast time is flying by.  My birthday, turned out to be the best one yet!  My husband threw me a surprise party with our local family, and friends.  Even his brother and sister-in-law were able to extend their stay, to be here!  My great friend, had a huge party and is truly an amazing and awesome person & friend!  I don't I will ever forget this!

January was very LONG!  I realized that, although I love Winter and snow, I need some sunshine and time outdoors!  We had a blizzard the end of the month that dropped 25 inches of snow in about as many hours.  It was beautiful, but I am glad it's gone! : )  I started back to college, and found out quickly how tough it is to go to school myself, take care of 2 kids, homeschool, and attempt to keep up with groceries, homework, and housework.

February flew by also!  Candle sales picked up again, we had Christmas with my Mom, and got back to our home school schedule.  Not to mention my school work. 


So, here we are, starting March.  This is a busy month for us.  We are back to full home school schedule, my homework, and Chloe turns 2 on the 14th.    The end of February we finalized our home loan requirements,(all but the down payment!), we have begun paying off debts, and really looking forward to our big move this Summer.  We are doing some packing as time allows, but the majority will be done in May/June.  I have Candle parties/orders/fundraisers going on all over this month.  I have been working towards some organization in our house and our schedules.  I am finding that I have to have these to get anything accomplished. 

There's really not a whole lot new in our house, but yet our house is buzzing with excitement. 
Wishing you many blessings!
Salli