fmf | search

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Someone near and dear to me (and, I won't mention names) is on a quest...to actually hear GOD's voice.  They're discouraged and sad that it so far isn't or hasn't been an audible voice for them.  Whenever, we get to connect about it - we try to encourage but with futile words, because even ours won't readily be heard.  We say - "Sometimes, you have to be still (quiet!) and then you will know - God." (Psalm 46:10)

We remind.  "Look at answers, to prayers, you do have - though they've come circumstantially... - they're still answers."

Apparently, that isn't an audible voice; its not enough!

God's voice isn't always clear, is it?  We have his WORD, right, and, we need to pray and ask to have the eyes of our heart, opened, to see clearly.  I talk with my kiddo's quite often (in fact, AGAIN just this morning!) - about the fact that they need to look at me when I am talking to them.  That they will be able to hear me better when they keep their eyes fixed on my face.   Surprise!!!!!

Imagine - the connection that would happen!!!

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart. 

***

Joining with the Five Minute Friday Community today - today's word prompt is: search

fmf | Build

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This prompt word is very interesting.  The other day - my son was working through an assignment for school and it involved a mathematical situation.  The only way to really have him "get it" was to imagine building a house.  We used this analogy and it didn't take him long to get this math problem figured out - correctly. When he saw the way it was originally "figured"... he could truly see the error and KNEW this figurative building wasn't going to work...as it was.

Do we really know what we're working with when we go to build - anything?  Relationships.  A home! Getting a business up off the ground and running.

There is something to be said - in going back and taking a second look as to what you have before you.  Is it a right fit?  Is it coming together - as expected?  Are the others in your "one-anothering" feeling the same connectiveness and commonalities that you feel about them? 
If not.  What needs to change?
When we say we want to "build" something. 
The groundwork being laid - needs to be solid and sure.

You may have heard the phrase... Don't throw your pearls before swine.  Well, what in the world does that even mean?  Right?  Pearls are something of great value.  Swine or a herd of pigs - don't typically care about such things of value. They would, by nature, trample them underfoot and move on.

I've been pondering... about how it looks to or what it means to add value to others.  I want to build a happy and health home (Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 24:3-4).  My Marriage matters...
Apart from Christ... homes and marriages can falter.   Building up an emergency fund or even our simple bank accounts takes diligence and sometimes sacrifice.   A business will only built if its foundation is secure.  Dreams are great!  But...aren't they only "fluff" without the sweat, grit and tears.

Sometimes.  Building relationships means a simple investment...of time and thoughtfulness.  Maybe MORE than what has already been given.  It may mean more hugs.  A correction.  A listening ear.  A deeper/fuller smile.  A serious question...
Time... putting aside the "me and my wants" for the other.

Something to think about today.

Here is a playdough house that one of my kiddos' made along time ago.  Got love the heart inside the house.

***

Joining with the Five Minute Friday - Writing Community.  This word prompt is: Build

a Winter poem - by my ten year old...

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:: Winter White ::

Gently falling 

Winter White -

all are dancing 

in the night.

Waking up to

piles high, 

the snow has drifted 

to the sky .

From the window 

I did say, "Oh, the 

snow -- stay home,and play."

Rolling, Tumbling 

Winter White 

snowmen family 

in our sight.

Gently whisper 

"nighty- night"

Dreams of snowflakes

through the night.

~ Aubrey S. (10 yrs)

**

I'm proud of my little one.  She was home "sick" the first day back to school in the new year and we got talking about things she is looking forward to in the upcoming school days.  She mentioned that she will be venturing into poetry.  So we sat down and started writing.  I helped to tweak or challenged her to use a "deeper word" here and there... but this is HERS!!!  I love poetry.  Always have...

 The snowflake mug mats were a gift from a dear friend... whom, I don't want to forget.  Ever!!

fmf | with

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Emmanuel - God with us!

I may have shared this thought here before but it bears repeating... 

"When you're not with someone - you're at them."

Jesus alludes to this in Scripture... (I'll have to go look it up again) but, how true!  Right?  Christmas is here -- and while a wonderful time of year, it also can be quite stressful.  I know, our home - has felt that. Let me be a bit vulnerable here and share... the stress of schedules, studying for tests, work related issues, meal prep and all the other household things that need tending to can really play a toll.  One of our biggest stressers gets revealed when early mornings come and we're getting the kids up and at em - for school.  There are distractions by books and papers, toys and even each other.  If we get up "too late"... then that puts on the crunch for everything.  And, you've got one - who doesn't know what to wear, the other who is "so cozy"...and, "can't get up!!"...  "can't find my shoes"... and because of feeling the pressure... the clock ticking FAST... panic sets in.   And, Mamma... well, Mamma's voice isn't so quiet anymore.

Right??  All the things.   

So, recently... I was thinking about this.  Why do we have this kind of tipping-point stress in our lives? I do believe it comes down to the whole thing of not being WITH people (our hearts are not united) and so we're AT each other.  When and where we're at each other "throats"... loud.  Hurtful.  Always "picking a fight", trying to better ourselves - one-upping another instead of building each other up...

This is why Jesus came.  To unite our hearts.  To beat as one.  TO CONNECT.  Built together to keep each other strong.   These fence posts do no good all piled up on one another.  But... unless they're positioned in, with and for each other... does it make an impact.

We've been working on.  Whispers.  Warm hugs.  Well-wishes.  Being amazed... and encouraging each other instead of critiquing, complaining and conjuring up "trouble".

I have to tell you.  This morning!  I was joking with my kiddos... that it MUST be that Christmas is coming, or something!!!!   I mean, it felt like such a gift.   EVERYONE... was up... on their own.  Got dressed...on their own. Hair done and combed...on their own.  EARLY - before time.  ALL was quiet and calm - working together - as if they were excited about their half-day, last day before Christmas vacation begins.

Jesus was WITH us!  

He still is, and always will be!!

**
Joining with Five Minute Friday... a community of writers, taking a word prompt and sharing their thoughts.  Today's prompt was: With

fmf | Ocean

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You might simply flip when you read this next line, but It's true.

Our kids have never walked the shores of the ocean.  

They've never seen its massiveness nor smelt its salty smells.  They have seen plenty of shells and have heard many a story, but to experience the hot sand between their toes and to hear the constant lapping of waves....?  Well, they haven't.  Not yet... anyway.  That actually may change later this summer... as we, Lord Willing, head to NC and VA for a week of much anticipated vacation.

***

Our kiddos have been enjoying a week of Vacation Bible School at their Grandma Rhoda's church.  Last evening, we had some time to kill.  Mind you, we live 40-45 minutes away from her church - but due to another time commitment we were actually early (for a change!)... and we needed something to do.  Honestly, someone needed to use "the facilities"- QUICK!! ... and this is what immediately came to mind.

It was an easy choice.  The Fishing Pier of Lake Nockamixon.

Now... we've been here before, but its been awhile.  There definitely was a fresh draw and an intense awe.  If you know what I mean?  You would have thought we had found a "treasure chest"...everywhere we looked.  From skipping stones, to finding "seaweed", shells, spotting a heron, and fish bone/skeleton ... oh, and the fistful of flowers... are always a treasure in and of themselves.

Enjoy the photos of our brief visit to the lake/"ocean".  I wish I had gotten a few more photos with the kids in the frame...but, we'll take what we got!

The moments sped by and we needed to head off to VBS.   Where we continued to learn more about God's Creation.   Oh, the depths of his love....

PS:  Do you know how many times I heard the begging to go back to the water, again...today?!??

***

Joining up with Five Minute Friday - on the prompt word : Ocean.  

Thank you for reading my thoughts here, today!!

fmf :: Adapt

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This randomly growing dandelion caught my eye, this morning.  A flower seemingly out of place.  Should I pull it?  Ahh... I know some folks call these weeds, but I don't.  I won't.  There often found in the fistfuls of flowers - handed over by my Littles.  They are a bright spot, or two, or many, dotted across the yard...bringing me smiles.  But, this one?  Smack dab in the middle of another patch of beauty, trying to steal another's thunder?    I had to let it go.   I thought of this prompt word from Friday which I hadn't gotten to writing abou yet and this reminded me...

"Bevy, bloom where you're planted!!"

I continued to speak to myself... lol... 

"Yeah.  So what if you're still adapting.  Its coming up on a year in this new place.  You're doing great!! You're meeting new people, making new friends.  The kids are doing great - so is your hubby!!   The house is coming together.  It's slow - but there is progress.  You can still SHINE - even if you sometimes feel outta place.  You're okay!!!" 

Right now... we've been working outdoors - changing things up a bit, in the garden beds.  Making things more of our own.  The kids have been helping a lot.  We've had to really get used to doing our own lawn care, etc.  I got to thinking how plants (keeping with our theme of growing and growth)... plants, adapt very easily to new environments.  For the most part.  A little TLC goes a long, long way.

They certainly have no problem in being uprooted... they settle their roots again, where placed.  Granted - this one - I didn't plant.  God did.

 So it is, here.  With me.  Tender love and care... has been a reality.  Quiet changes along the way.  Some rough patches.  Lots of patience - or, working on it!!  But... the roots are taking depth...ever so slightly. I'm grateful for God's provision - might not be exactly what we wanted... but it what HE wanted.  For now.

To adapt is one thing.  To adapt well... and thrive, is another!!

How about you?  
Blooming where planted?
  ***
Thought you might like to see my Littles... :)

 They're growing up - aren't they?

(Makes me tear up!!)
***

Linking up with the community of writers from Five Minute Friday. 
This week's prompt word was: adapt

My Place :: home!

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“It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existence, [but] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's the flowers you choose, the music you play, the smile you have waiting. I want it to be gay and cheerful, a haven in this troubled world. I don't want my husband and children to come home and find a rattled woman. Our era is already rattled enough, isn't it?  ― Audrey Hepburn

***

Thinking about my place in the home!!!  There is this... 

It's this chair that's become my space and place!!  A quiet evening, an early morning... while on the phone, talking to a friend or checking messages.  Sipping on a cup of coffee or a pink drink... sharing a moment with one of my kiddos or hubby... just talking!

This is a place to say "I'm at home".

And, then.  There is the rest of the place that is mine!!

The rest of the home!!  And, what an opportunity - to resemble Jesus in this Place!! 

~ 

Switching gears, here, for a moment.  Bear with me!

 Oh, the tears began to fall this morning.

Another place... I want to talk about is here... Treasured Up and Pondered.

Through a small series of events - an old blogging friend and I recently reconnected.

As I logged in to view her blog and "catch back up" on and in her online space...

the tears just filled my eyes.

When you have soul sisters... who without even really "saying" anything - simply minister to you!!

You know?   And, then through that, following along... I stumbled across an old Part 1 and Part 2 (two different posts, of my own) that I had truly, truly forgotten about.  Stories that I personally had shared, with my kids, a couple of years ago, from my childhood-past, that tied into the present of today - and were life-lessons that I had totally and completely forgotten about.

 I NEEDED TO READ THEM AGAIN!!!!

God knew this...

People!

This is why I love being a stay-at-home-mom!!

Having a Place!!

Having a heart and home for serving others.

For listening.

For helping.

For being available.

Is it always easy?  No.  And, I have my moments where I want to get off the train.

(though, those are getting less and less) :)

But to be able to have this place for journaling, for me, is a salve for my soul. 

So many times... I have been able to sit and re-read something the Lord has laid on my heart - completely written in the past - that is so very vital for my present reality.

It's moments and times like these that un-rattle me!!!!

In other words.  I'm undone!!

***

 

- linking with fiveminutefriday.com .  Prompt word is: Place.

Of toy army men, pretzel nuggets, devotions and plastic containers. All part of an answer to prayer.

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 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  ~ Matthew 6:25-34

***

One afternoon, since our move, my son found yet another box to unpack. The box housed Lincoln Logs and about 30 or so little plastic army men.  We hadn't seen them in awhile... and well, he found it kinda fun to play with them again.  Completely understandable.

As he was cleaning up ... he declared he wished he had a plastic container to put them in.  Something like a peanut or cashew container.  Something clear, with a screw-top lid.  "Sorry, bud", I said. "I don't have anything like that right now... and I don't plan to go out shopping anytime soon.  I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you."

The next morning.  I head downstairs, for the day, and there are on the counter sits a container!!  Just like the one my son asked for... except it housed peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets. Okay... this works, but WHAT?!?!

Not sure where it came from.  I asked my husband.  Of course...he knew!!!

Backing up a bit... 

You see, the night before, Scott (my husband) had been out helping my Brother-in-law, do some work around his place and getting home after we all were in bed and then out, the door the next morning for work..we had to catch up over the phone.  This is what I found out.  Because he (John) is a service tech for broken-down trucks, out and about... the story goes that if there is/was an accident or such... and a pallet gets broken... the merchandise gets dispersed and so that is how a WHOLE BOX of peanut butter filled pretzels wound up at our house (mind you, lots of containers!) because what is my brother-in-law going to do with but so many boxes... but share?

Yes!!  6 plastic containers. Not one!!  But, six!!

So - I thought about it and asked Caleb, once he came downstairs, if he had prayed about his need?

"No", was his response. "I wished for it, but I hadn't prayed about it."

We sat down to talk.

I assured him, it was okay... but to listen to me.  I reminded him of our devotional the other evening... when we read from The Jesus Storybook - the passage and story from Matthew 6... about God caring for the birds of the air, the flowers of the field.

And, how that sometimes and more than we realize - even if we don't ask... God still cares enough to meet our needs!!

"You may not have asked GOD for a container, but HE still heard your heart's cry... and through the circumstance of events he provided for you..."

It was really neat to see these words sink into his little heart and mind.  He really pondered this one for awhile...

 *** 

Truth is.  I needed the reminder, just as much.  I still get the chill-bumps; the smile on my face, the comfort in my heart... knowing we have a good, GOOD Father... who cares and meets our every single need... no matter what!!!

Simple Thanks!!

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"Some days just call for escape.  When restlessness or loneliness or just the stickiness of life in a fallen world makes the wall of your home feel a bit close, the remedy may be an adventure..." 

- Sally Clarkson | The Life-Giving Home

When you have friends that ask to take your kiddo's for the WHOLE day, for a second play date, with events similar to this one (homemade popsicles and water fun!).... you have kiddos' that wake up super early; eagerly excited, who can hardly eat breakfast, because their anticipation of a fun, fun day is about to begin!!! 

 

 I'm so, so grateful for willing friends.  Friends..who are willing to take time, to take on more, so that I can have less (stress); that I can tend to an agenda that's been awaiting me...

Some days, I don't know what to say!!  But, thank you!!

***

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.  ~ John Muir

fmf :: play

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What is fmf, you ask??   Five Minute Friday.
An opportunity to share in five minutes, your thoughts, on the prompt word given.  Not a lot of overthinking or time spent...
This week's word was: Play

 ***

Oh the things you find when one of your kiddos asks if they can play with your phone!!

Scrolling through... it makes me nearly laugh at all the fun and creativity this girl provides...
Here are just two I've found, recently, on my phone...
Silly girl!!  I often find she's recorded videos, songs... antics. :)

Being the middle child - she is often adaptable to others taking charge at what to play but before long - you can hear her calling the shots and everyone, then, follows Aubrey... :)

My daughter is a lot like me - growing up.  As the oldest child, I was always creatively coming up with new ideas and things to play - make believe. 
One day I'd be a nurse, the next a school teacher, the next a mom...
Always pretending to be someone else and someone older than me.  I NEVER played things as my own age...my bike was always my car!!!
Oh, and when it was time to do the dishes or help in the garden...
Nope.  I was off, playing or hiding... pretending I had to use the bathroom.  BAAADDDD!!!

I don't know what I would have been like had my parents a cell phone to play on.

***
Linking up with fiveminutefriday.com

The War of Words

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You've all heard this before - that our words are like the dandelions puff blown, scattered to the wind and that they're not returnable.  And, oh how we wish they were.  Especially, if we've messed up!!

It's true.
You can't reclaim your words.  Once they're out there, they're out there!!  It feels like a war sometimes of what words can do.  I can remember some specific times in my growing up years, even into my late teens or now as an older woman, even... times when words really embedded themselves deep into my soul.  They became a part of me - good and bad.

It might not have even been the words but rather the way they were said (just the tone of voice) that made that impact.  Again, that is good or bad...

See?  The war of words... it's a real thing.

This has been heavy on my heart and mind here of late.  I keep thinking of my words and how they impact.  In fact, these song lyrics (by Hawk Nelson) keep rolling around in my heart and head.. I've been humming...

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

If this can just encourage you today - let it be!!
I simply ask for prayers - whispered heavenward... to be that infectious soul of LIFE-GIVING words of blessing and hope and encouragement... whenever and wherever I can.
As a wife.  As a mother. As a sister, daughter and friend.

I found this as something to ponder:
Boys flying kites haul in their white-winged birds; 
You can't do that when you are flying words.
"Careful with fire" is good advice, we know;
"Careful with words" is ten times doubly so.
Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead;
But God himself can't kill them when they're said.  
~ Will Carleton
***

Here is Hawk Nelson's song in full... for you to enjoy, as well!



May you have a blessed week!!!  Speak Life...

While I can't say it's healing...I can say things are changing for the better!! | My Health Testimony

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One year later - and I guess it's time to share... what's changing in and for our family!!!!  Thank you for taking the time to read...

My Plexus Story.

I guess I should say “our plexus story”, because me, my husband and our eight-year-old son, Caleb, are all using the Plexus Products.  In fact, it is nearing our one-year mark of using these wonderful, life-changing supplements.

I can’t remember the exact time or date my sister first mentioned Plexus to me.  But what I can say is - what if?  What if she had never shared?  And what if this is the last thing I'll ever do again for my health and for the health of my family?

I remember my sister handing me a packet of printed-out, intriguing testimonials that someone had given her to read - asking if I had ever heard of these products?  Only then, at the time, did I read and reread these testimonies but remained largely aloof, for months, as they sat on my nightstand, shoved under and pulled out to be read and reread again and again. Out of sight, outta mind - you might say, until one day… I really took a look.

I wouldn’t say I was necessarily skeptical… although I was perplexed.  Intrigued, is maybe more the term I should use.  Here I was reading testimonies of how folks were finding relief with things from Lyme, plantar warts, headaches, anxiety and mood swings, weight loss and so much more.   These were a lot of the same things I was personally struggling with.

How could all of these health issues be alleviated or helped - by just one line of product?

When I asked Scott (my husband) to take a look – he was actually willing to give it a try. After all, nothing else had worked.  We found out that there was an Informational Meeting close to our home and we decided to go and check it out.  We learned so much that evening. As well.   No one pushed us to sign up for anything because it was for our education only.   The one thing I do remember is the phrase ... "If you decide to take advantage of these products, you will feel SO much better".  

It was the end of May 2015, when we decided to sign up right away as an Ambassador – simply to take advantage of the deeply discounted prices – of the products.  We knew we both wanted/needed to be on these products.  For my husband and I – our reasons were different.  While the Plexus products do mention that “Natural Weight Loss” may occur, it was never once promoted to us that this was solely its benefit.  Yet, this was my husband’s desire.  My fingers were crossed!

I, on the other hand, knew and understood I was truly dealing with Candida Overgrowth and wanted to see if and how these products could help with my Lyme, Planter Warts and such…

Regular bowel habits were not part of our story, either.  We needed a change.

Within just a few weeks of consistently using the core products - the Triplex Combo (Slim, BioCleanse, ProBio5) – we began to notice increased energy, loss of inches and pounds and for sure – reduced cravings.  In particular, our coffee habit**.  I'll tell this amazing story, at the end of my post. ;)

 I believe we also began saving money on our groceries as well. ;)   It wasn't that I was changing - much - in how I was cooking in the kitchen per say - it was just that I was putting more back into the freezer (as leftovers) simply because we weren't eating as much.  What a curve ball...

But we began to notice other things, too.  Scott's toenail fungus issue was resolving.  Something he was dealing with long before we were married.  His joint aches and pains were alleviated... and so were my Lyme symptoms.  (This alone - was most phenomenal!)  I know the Plantar Warts that cover both of the bottoms of my feet will take longer because I've been dealing with them for like forever... but they are changing.  Things are slowly happening here.  But happening - just the same.

All in all - I could not believe how I was feeling...

Enter my eight-year old's story.  

So, as I was learning more and more about Yeast Overgrowth and Candida.  That this candida feeds on sugar and dead and dying matter... and how that anything "white" is candida/yeast.  I got to thinking about ALL the antibiotics and such that myself and my son had gone through - from DAY ONE of his life!! I began to put two and two together to realizing... my son was STILL so sick on the inside - more than I even realized

When Caleb was born - I had no idea I was so sick.  I had no idea how serious our situation was. Here I am going into labor almost two weeks early - with an infection in my amniotic fluid.  An infection called - Chorioamnionitis.  This resulted in me having an emergency C-section and my baby spending the first 5 days of his life, in the NICU, on antibiotics  - as well as myself.  Only for me to develop a secondary infection in my incision and requiring even more antibiotics.  Breast Feeding was horrible... I had little to no milk for him... and he was constantly constipated - especially as an infant.

All of this to say.  It's no wonder - looking back, now - to realize that every time Caleb turned around in his young life and thought of a germ, it would put him out - and under.  SICK as a dog!!  For days at a time.  Eye infections, ear infections, asthma, strep throat, hives, rashes (of any and every kind), trouble concentrating in school (a.k.a. brain fog), etc.   Spiking fevers all of the time - and back on another round of antibiotics - until he started having allergic reactions to those...

Vicious cycle.

I started faithfully using the Triplex Combo (Slim, BioCleanse and ProBio5) on Caleb - since December of 2015.  Folks... I am noticing  a remarkable change in my son. He has been the healthiest I have ever seen my son to be.  Even the teachers at school - sending home letters of "what is going on with this kid?" - that just having a consistent bathroom habit is making this kid a happy kid.

He loves and is very willing to take these products - knowing how much better he is feeling... all around.

Real quick.  My middle child - who was always the healthiest of us meaning if Aubrey got sick we'd all be sure to catch what she had, refuses to use the plexus products (except for the family chewable multivitamin) was actually our sickest kid this year.  Go figure.

Jayne - our youngest - we would have always said - seemed reminiscent of her brother.  She would get sick fairly often too.  Not as bad as Caleb - but notably so.  Well...guess what!  During my pregnancy with her - I was on another strong round of antibiotics for a case of Phlebitis...in my right leg.  No wonder this trickled down to my daughter...

I'm not saying antibiotics aren't necessary and don't have their place... I'm grateful for their help, when needed.  But what I wish I would have known about or thought about was the HELPFUL and MUCH NEEDED benefit of Probiotics on the other side or during...

***

I'm so grateful for finding these Plexus Products.   I know I'm having to backtrack and reverse the effects of what our family has gone through - and it's going to take TIME to get our bodies back.  But the truth is... they are!!

These products work.

Yes - sometimes the detox symptoms are not easy to go through - but I'm willing to push through knowing that each layer or level of die-off is short lived and that there is "healing" happening all the while... I'm using these products.  Having consistent and regular bathroom habits has been life-changing, as well.

I'm also so thankful for the new-found energy I have.  I'm also happy to report that my husband's desire came true.  Remember - he was hoping to lose weight?  Well... he did!  To date...Scott lost a total of 47 pounds...over the course of this year.   I have lost notable inches and only 15 pounds (so far) - but I'll take it.  Compared to how I was feeling and now?... I am so happy!!

This is a journey.  I know it's going to take time and patience and consistency on our part and I can't wait to see how our lives will continue to "change".  Everybody will have a different story...and as you can see or read... even between my husband, son and myself - our stories are different.

(Disclaimer:  I can not say and I hope you do not hear me saying that these products are what is healing my/our bodies.  I know that as toxins are being expelled and flushed out of our systems that the body does what it is naturally meant to do and that is what, when and where true healing takes place.  And, secondly - I cannot tell you to give these products to your kids - except for the XFactor Family Chewables - but that is for you to decide.  Technically - from Plexus Worldwide itself.  I must tell you that these products have not been FDA approved and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)

I want to quick share a funny for our family - and this is the coffee story - I had previously mentioned.

About two, three weeks into our start of Plexus... we had some coffee drinking friends over for dinner and afternoon/evening visit.  With these dear friends it was not unusual to burn through several pots of coffee during our time together.  Not to mention it would mostly be Scott and I who would do our fair share of polishing off a pot of coffee ourselves - times two.    So - when we didn't deliver in serving coffee... they asked us - "Where's the coffee?"

To our laughing amazement and dismay - Scott and I looked at each other - dumbfounded.  Number one - we didn't have enough coffee grounds to make one single pot and so we borrowed from our neighbor (my brother and his wife) - but we totally could not believe that it had been this long and we had not brewed one single pot of coffee for these past couple of weeks.  See usually - we would brew a pot first thing in the morning - Scott would fill his thermos thingy and head off to work.  I would drink the rest of that pot and then after dinner we would brew a whole nother 12-cup pot of coffee and drink on that all evening... and think nothing of it.  So to go from all of that coffee to none and not even think about it was pretty amazing!!  Our cravings have totally changed.

Now today - one year later?  It's not that I won't have a cup here and there... I will.  But I certainly do not need a whole pot or more in one day.

Love, love, LOVE the changes Plexus is making in our lives!!!!!!!!!  I'm so looking forward to any further and more future changes as well.  

Friends -  I'm only sharing this because if these products didn't work - why in the world would I even bother to mention it, in the first place?  And, I share often (mostly through my facebook page) - because I truly care for the ones I love and for the ones I know who could reap some of the same benefits as our family has.

Do you think you may have more questions?  Feel free to contact me, or ask them right here in the comment section.  I would be glad to help!

Thank you for your fine support and "listening" to our family's testimony on Plexus.

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Linking with Finding the Grace Within  | tuesday @ ten :: heal

Happy Mother's Day!

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*** warning: buttercup photo overload ;)  Enjoy!!

Flowers on the windowsill are never an exception.  They are always the rule this time of year!

I caught my girls out in our "empty" cowpasture - over the weekend.  These photos were taken through the dining room window.  I don't prefer they wander the meadow and usually it's a strong "no-no" for them to be out there but I guess since there were no cows and the buttercups kept calling their names (wonder how I could tell?)... I let them continue.  Simply capturing these moments.

They do know that it'll probably be the VERY last time - they can do this.  The grasses will be too high and the tick's will be out aplenty before too long.   This is what we will have to deal with - with no cows to keep the meadow grass at bay.  We miss "our" cows.  Truth is.  

We've never seen so many buttercups in one place before.  ((sigh))

We love they're yellow glow under the chin!!  Buttercups are so dainty and precious..

For now.  I will take ALL their bouquets of buttercups they can collect and call it a Happy Mother's Day - in advance!

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If you are Blessed.  Be a Blessing!!