Diffusing Hope

The Difference

Don’t think the ingredients in your personal products matter? Read on.

Non-toxic ingredients make a difference.
Unfortunately, we came into the natural health world when our boys were in their teen and preteen years. Meaning, they didn’t always appreciate all the different things we were doing. I was even told at one point that I was making things “too healthy.”

Back in the day my college kids would buy their own soap at college, but use whatever was in the shower when they were at home. One summer one of my boys learned that there is a difference in the products we use.

As he did every summer he packed up everything to go to camp and was gone for a week. When he returned home he kept using his usual college soap for some reason. He had always struggled with back acne and one night, after he’d been home about a week, he had his shirt off and it was SO much worse. Not necessarily more but what was there was just…worse.

I immediately thought of the soap and asked him if he’d been using it before camp – no. But you used it at camp and since you got home? Yes.
Two weeks and his body really noticed a difference. He could also notice the difference. I suggested he not use it again and I would make sure he had good soap from Young Living from now on.

Personal care products like soap, shampoos, makeup, lotions and so much more contain many ingredients that are harmful to our bodies. Many are known carcinogens and hormone disrupters. The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act grandfathered in thousands upon thousands of ingredients on the assumption that they were safe.

The biggest culprit is the ingredient, “fragrance.” Companies claim that their fragrance is proprietary information and therefore they don’t have to disclose the toxic substances they use to perfume your cleaners, lotions, soap, etc.

My suggestion is to get rid of all things “fragrance” in your home. Start reading labels religiously and switch to plant based products you can trust. I buy as much as I can from Young Living. It’s my one stop shop and it delivers right to your door. Yes, there are other companies that do this for much less but read the labels. You’ll see “fragrance” on almost every one. That’s why I only trust Young Living.

Want to get started with Young Living? Head to youngliving.com, click “become a member” and choose a starter pack. Use my referral number, 2244609, and you’ll be on my team! That means I share more education with you and help you do what’s best for you and your family. Drop me a message to let me know you’ve done this and I’ll send you an awesome welcome pack!

Menu Planning

Do you menu plan? I’ve been doing it for 24 years!! I was asked how I do it so many times I finally wrote a book for a few family and friends many years ago. (I was a SAHM at the time and would type 5 recipes every nap time. My plan was just a Christmas gift for family but then friends wanted a copy so I actually sold them to people for about 3 years. Gave them as wedding and shower gifts too.)

I have menu planned for so long I don’t know how to function without it now. I plan my menus and completely base my grocery list off of that. I don’t know how to buy groceries without a menu. I can necessities and things I know we use every two weeks but beyond that, nope. Menu planning is not only a time saver but a money saver because you’re not running to the store all the time. The first month I tried it I cut our grocery bill in half!

If you’ve never done menu planning I have some tips to help you get started:

-You don’t have to plan the whole month, start with a week, then maybe two. I base ours around when paychecks come in.

-You are not tied to the plan. Don’t feel like what’s on the menu for tonight? Make something else you planned for that’s the beauty of having the plan and groceries on hand.

-Look at your schedule and plan accordingly. It’s okay to write down, “sandwiches” if you have a game or practice.

-If your family likes pizza every Saturday or tacos every Tuesday then put them in there. Go easy on yourself.

– Repeat menus are time savers. I use to know that if we had lasagna one month we’d have spaghetti the next month. Tacos this month? Nachos next month. Runzas one month, pizza pockets the next month. (Spread out that workload!) Can you tell I don’t like the same thing all the time? If you’re family likes the same five things each week you do you boo.

Do you menu plan? Does this make you want to start? Drop a comment and let me know any questions you might have!

Sunday Takeaways 5-2-21

In Sunday School and church we are studying our church’s doctrinal statement. Why we believe what we believe. We are doing this for a few reasons; first, we have a number of new members, second, it’s always good to have a refresher, third, you need to be able to explain what you believe when asked.

This Sunday we were focusing on God but what really became clear to me was the subject of prayer. Have you ever wondered why we need to pray if God knows what we need anyway? Ever felt like you simply can’t pray about the same thing again? Ever wondered if your prayers sounded selfish to God? I have. I felt like Pastor Mike explained things in a way that no one else ever had Sunday and I won’t feel like that again.

Why do we pray if God knows what we need? Because God desires a relationship with us. He wants us to come to him with our needs and requests. You can’t have a relationship if you never talk to someone. So, even if you feel silly taking your most simple requests to God, he doesn’t see it that way.

Prayer is also a way to acknowledge God’s power over our lives. We can do nothing without him. Prayer acknowledges that. Prayer humbles us before God as we lay our burdens down at His feet. We are reminded that we may not be able to solve our troubles, our trials, our worries, but He can. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

We are also called to be persistent in prayer. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 shows us that. Verse 1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Pastor gave another illustration that helped me see this another way. Matthew 7:7 says, ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Look at the action words; ask, seek, knock. He saw these as increasing in intensity. First, you ask, like when I ask my husband to go get something out of the kitchen for me. I ask knowing he’ll do it. I’m sure of the answer. When you seek, you’re seeking wisdom or knowledge. Maybe there is something happening in your life you don’t understand or don’t know how to deal with. You go to God and ask for wisdom or guidance or understanding. When you knock you are facing a closed door. Something you can’t open. Only God can. It’s the time when we need the most help.

What do you do if you need desperate help and you’re knocking on the neighbors door? You know they are home and you really need them. Do you stop after trying once? Or do you keep knocking until someone answers and helps you? Are you persistent in knocking until you get an answer?

For some reason all of this just really clicked for me and solved a lot of unanswered questions I’ve had for quite some time. I could really have listened to a whole sermon focused on prayer with answers like this.

What about when God doesn’t answer our prayer? When we are persistent in prayer, we are asking and seeking? God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we think He should and that can be disappointing but trust that God knows what He is doing. Trust that the answer is the best thing for you. Rest in all the other promises of scripture that tell you He has your best interests at heart. Ask Him why he didn’t answer. Seek Him with all of your heart. Keep asking him why until you understand.

One Year Bible

I’ve been reading this One Year Bible since January.

I’ve never read the Bible in a year. I always thought, nah, that’s not for me. I think it was the fact that I had to wade through Leviticus and Numbers that put me off. (God, you put those books there just to teach us patience, didn’t you?) Whatever the reason, I never considered it.

Then I had a conversation with a lady in our church that made me think maybe I could do it. I knew my in-laws had given us this Bible for Christmas sometime ago and miracle of miracles we could find it after the move.

What I’m liking is how reading a little bit of the Old Testament and a little bit of the New Testament reinforces the continuity of the Bible. It keeps bringing to mind facts my boys learned many years ago in AWANA. Facts Pastor reiterated yesterday as we studied why we believe the Bible is true.

The Bible was written by 40 different authors over a course of 1600 years. There are 66 books in the Bible, 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. And yet, there’s continuity. The story the Bible tells is continuous and connected because it was inspired by God. He allowed for the authors to put their own stamp on it due to their personalities but God inspired the message.

When you read it all together in a year you see this. You marvel at it. So his is why people read the Bible in a year!

There’s so much more I could point out but then I’m just repeating Pastor. Go watch the Stromsburg Baptist Church YouTube channel for this week and hear it for yourself!

Anthro Diffuser Blend

1 drop Ylang Ylang

2 drops Orange

2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce

2 drops Grapefruit

Adjust these drops as needed for your preference. You can substitute Geranium for Ylang Ylang and Northern Lights Black Spruce for the Idaho.

This blend has power! Total power to calm me down when I feel like my emotions are taking control. The citrus is uplifting and calming. Tree oils ground you but the Idaho Blue Spruce has this warm mellow smell that doesn’t overpower you. And flower oils are joyous and uplifting. Think of blooms popping open.

You can run around the house finding all the oils or triple the recipe and put them in a dropper bottle by your diffuser. Then it’s ready to go when you need it. Just add 5-6 drops to your diffuser, add water and ahhhh.

Check out my diffuser highlight on Instagram and watch my stories for more recipes.

Easter Sunday Takeaways

Whew! What a week! Was Easter just this Sunday?? I had a short revelation on Sunday and Pastor brought out a verse that I’ve never reflected on before.

First, my revelation. Before we can understand the gift of salvation we have to understand that we have a need for a Savior. Now, you might think, “Well duh, Monica” but hold on for the rest. If we don’t understand the severity of our sin, we don’t understand the need. Again, hang on. In a culture that is making everything all right and letting “you do you” how do we come to understand this?

I’ve never thought of it in quite that way before. As the world gets farther and farther away from using the Bible as a guiding moral compass how do we understand right and wrong? How do we know good and evil? How do we see how far from God we are if we don’t even acknowledge He exists?

Then the verse, or actually verses, Hebrews 2:1-4

“We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/heb.2.4.hcsb

The Truth has not only been spoken by Jesus, but the disciples witnessed it, the angels proclaimed it and if that wasn’t enough God used signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit to shout it. And I still have friends who believe this is all a fairytale. But with all this evidence we have no excuse for neglecting or rejecting the gift of salvation. We will not escape punishment if we do. F

Friend, have you received the gift of God’s salvation? Do you understand your need? If you are not sure, let’s talk.

Cortistop

When you experience stress in your life your body produces cortisol. If you are under stress for long periods of time you can overproduce cortisol which can lead to fatigue, weight gain and even cardiovascular problems. Cortistop from You g Living is designed to help bring a balance back to the body. Cortistop contains Fennel, Clary Sage, Canadian Fleabane, Frankincense, and Peppermint essential oils plus other essential herbs and nutrients that are known to help with this balance.

This past year we bought and sold a house the first week of shutdown, our two college boys came home from spring break and never left, I shut the library doors for 9 weeks and changed library computer systems. By June when we were living in temporary housing for six weeks I was done. I had no reserves to tap into. I’ve dealt with many hard circumstances in life and pushed through but this time it felt like I just couldn’t push through. When I talked to my counselor about how I was feeling she said all the stress had depleted my body. I needed something to calm down my stress response and give my body time to catch up. She recommended a antidepressant but was okay with me trying the natural route first. I started using Cortistop and it began helping me the very first month.

It’s recommended with Cortistop that you use it for 8 weeks and then stop for two weeks to assess how you’re doing. This is one of those supplements that’s not designed for you to take forever. The two week break helps you assess how you are feeling and if more time is needed. For me, I couldn’t make it without it for those two weeks at first-a sure sign my body not only needed it but that it was helping. I think I did three rounds total to help me level out.

After I told my counselor I had this horrible craving for potato chips and couldn’t not eat them every day she also suggested getting some electrolytes in my system. My insatiable craving was another indication of how bad my body was depleted. I immediately thought of the Vitality Drops from Young Living that contain electrolytes, but I didn’t have any on hand. My husband looked up electrolytes in a reference guide and saw that Citrus Fresh Vitality taken in a capsule was recommended. I tried it and felt so much better! My brain fog disappeared and my energy levels started coming back. I also stopped craving potato chips. Mmmm, Wavy Lay’s.

Please talk with healthcare professional if you are feeling overwhelmed, drained, run down, or depressed. Listen to them. I’m not prescribing anything here, but sharing what worked for me.

Need help getting started with Young Living? You can message me your questions and I’ll gladly answer them. Follow my stories on Instagram for daily tips on using Young Living products. Instagram.com/mrstidyman

Sunday Takeaways 2-28-21

I wanted to finish up the fruits of the Spirit as I can never remember any sermons preached on each of the fruits as Pastor Mike has.

Let’s pick up with fruit of goodness. Pastor Mike defined it as courage to do the right thing even though it is the hard thing. To speak the truth in love even though I may be criticized for it. King Hezekiah from 2 Chronicles 29:2; 31:20 was used as an example. King Hezekiah lived in a time when the children of Israel had forgotten God and worshipped other gods. King Hezekiah destroyed all those other worship places and called the people back to God. That couldn’t have been easy but he chose to do what is right in the face of much poppy.

Faithfulness. There wasn’t a definition for faithfulness, but a call to be faithful as God is faithful to us. Does your spiritual relationship dry up when things are good? Do you bail on God when things are bad? Does he bail on us? Faithfulness also involves being faithful to one another. That others can count on us when things aren’t easy. Acts 2:42 references that when it talks about the early church being faithful to one another and in prayer.

All of the other fruits of the spirit are dependent on the fruit of self-control. If we can’t control ourselves will we be faithful? Good? Loving? patient?

Gentleness is the refusal to use your power to hurt anyone. That’s not just physical. It also includes not being critical or trying to ridicule others. Being careful to not be mean. An unwillingness to act in a way that cuts others.

As a final challenge for the fruits of the spirit Pastor Mike challenged us to examine ourselves. Where are we lacking in any of these fruits? How can we do better? How can the Spirit help us? We are not intended to fight the battle against our fleshly ways and desires in our own strength. When you accept Christ as your Savior the Holy Spirit enters our lives as a Helper. When people tell you to listen to that still, small voice that’s the Spirit helping you live a life that honors God.

How do You Thieves?

How do you Thieves? When I was first hearing about Young Living I was a working mom going back to school with kids in junior high and high school. We were busy! We had no time to be sick. I also had a Type 1 Diabetic/Celiac kiddo who couldn’t take most over the counter medicines for colds and such. The ones he could take he wouldn’t because he didn’t like the taste.

So when I heard there was an oil blend called Thieves that could help support our immune systems and could be used to help fight off colds I knew I needed that! Then once I became a customer and joined our education groups I found out about all the hidden toxins in our home that might be contributing to asthma issues and guess what? There was a Thieves for that! As we switched out products in our home the respiratory issues gradually disappeared.

I’m so grateful to learn about all the products with Young Living that have changed our life and that’s why I keep sharing about them with you! What if no one had talked about them in my presence and shared their experiences? I might still be clueless! That would be sad.

Hope

You’ve probably seen the memes that remind us we’re closing in on a year of the two weeks to flatten the curve. A year that has many of us shaking our heads. Political upheaval, censorship like we haven’t seen in our time, media craziness, and more. Many have been home with their children for a whole year. Newborns that have rarely seen anyone besides a family member are turning a year. Many are struggling to find hope. Some have given up hope and others say there is no hope.

But this? This green poking out of the mulch? This was buried in two feet of snow a coupe of weeks ago. Now the snow is gone, the air is warmer and the flower under there has awakened. That’s one place you find hope.

Our church had a baptism today and baptized five adults who chose to make that profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Almost a year ago we didn’t know when or if we’d have in person church again. I find hope in that. Even in the darkest of times Jesus never stops working. To quote a popular song, even when we don’t see him working he never stops.

Look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, for hope. Shut off the noise. The alarmist posts, the shouting people, the talking heads, the lies, the fear and bury yourself in Jesus. Worship music, church, prayer and most especially God’s Word. I recommend the Psalms. That’s where I found myself in May of last year and that’s where I found hope.