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Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Back to School Eye Health Tips

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New clothes and a new backpack may be on your child’s back-to-school list. But, what about a back-to-school eye exam?

Lighthouse Guild, the leading vision and health organization, points out that vision is one of the keys to success in school and encourages parents to make sure their children get regular vision screenings. Dr. Laura Sperazza, Director of Low Vision Services at Lighthouse Guild, says, “The most important thing you can do to protect your child’s vision is to make sure they get an eye exam. An eye health professional can determine if your child needs eyeglasses or contact lenses, or if there is a vision problem that requires further intervention.”

August Is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

We’ve spent the last year in vision therapy with one of our children for convergence insufficiency treatment. We attended weekly sessions and completed daily homework. I have seen a world of difference in my daughter’s reading, comprehension, abstract thinking, and confidence. As homeschoolers, we didn’t know she was experiencing any vision issues and we didn’t have the proper screenings through specialist doctors, even though she had eyeglasses for reading. It’s important as parents to do research and pay attention to problems and symptoms. Learn more at COVD.

My husband and I both wear contacts and glasses and three of our four kids wear glasses.

Lots of eye care shops offer great back to school deals on glasses for kids under age 18.

Check out these five healthy vision tips to help safeguard your child’s eye health:

Eat Your Carrots

The old saying still applies. Encourage your child to eat a well-balanced diet loaded with different types of fruits and veggies, as well as fish and/or flax.

Speak Up

Ask your child to let you know if they notice any vision changes – if their vision is blurry, they are squinting a lot, or their eyes start bothering them in other ways.

Wear Your Glasses

Help your child understand the importance of wearing their eyeglasses. If they are resistant because they believe glasses are unattractive, try pointing out sports figures and other well-known people who wear glasses. Talk with them about how to clean and store their glasses properly.

Rest Your Eyes

Looking continuously at a computer, smartphone, tablet, or TV screen can tire eyes. Encourage your child to take regular breaks from staring at a screen.

Wear Safety Gear

Make sure your child wears goggles or other types of protective eye wear while playing sports, using chemicals or tools for school projects, or engaging in other activities. Many eye injuries can be prevented with better safety habits.

Twitter Party!

Lighthouse Guild and ColumbiaDoctors Children’s Health will also host a back to school Twitter chat on Thursday, August 30, at 7 PM. Parents can learn and ask questions about preventing and managing childhood vision loss and preparing their kids for school from experts in the field. Lighthouse Guild’s Twitter handle is @lighthousegld.

About Lighthouse Guild

Lighthouse Guild is the leading organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss.

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Choices Matter in Pain Management

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I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I delivered my third child via Caesarean section on 11 May 2007.

I was told that after two rather traumatic large natural no-meds births that an elective C-section was the only way to go for my baby’s health and safety. If I chose to attempt to deliver naturally that could lead to complications and an emergency C-section, it could be dangerous.

I thought I was prepared.

With an elective C-section, almost everything was out of my control.

I felt like a failure.

But my perfect little girl was all worth it.

I didn’t have many options for pain management in a military hospital.

The anesthesiologist administered an epidural for the surgery. I received oral pain meds during my hospital stay that made me nauseated. I got an opioid prescription to take at home.

I didn’t receive any helpful post-care or information about pain management, healing, scar care, or effects of opioids on my nursing baby. I was simply sent home with an opioid prescription, stool softener, and some brochures.

My parents were visiting but are no help to me or my family. I had to entertain them when all I wanted was rest. My husband had to return to work within the week. I had pressing concerns  – caring for my newborn and other children while recovering from major surgery – and doctors are supposed to be trustworthy professionals.

Right?

The medical professionals all assured me it was safe to take my prescriptions while nursing. I took as few of the opioids as possible, for only a couple days, because they made me feel nauseated. Then I moved on to milder and most likely safer pain meds – non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID). Luckily, I was young and strong and healed well and quickly. I had two other kids to care for and I couldn’t afford to be laid up for long. Great pain management options also include CAM treatments, long-acting anesthetics, warm baths, heating pads, or ice packs. I utilize integrative methods when I can.

I recommend doing your own research and discussing options before surgery so you won’t have to make quick important decisions while groggy or in pain.

My daughter is now 11 years old and is by far my healthiest child of four, and surely is fine despite the opioids I took for pain those first few days after her birth while I was nursing her. But what if the meds had affected her? How many children have been or are being affected by side effects of strong pain meds? We don’t have all the answers to exposure. There are lots of options for pain management for nursing moms after C-section.

Choices Matter is a campaign designed to educate and empower patients, caregivers, and physicians to discuss pain management options, including effective non-opioid options, prior to surgery. The use of non-opioid options before, during, and after surgery can significantly decrease or, in many cases, completely eliminate the need for opioids after many common procedures, including C-section deliveries.

Some Caesarean section statistics:

• More than 1 in 3 women had C-section deliveries; overall, 1 in 5 C-sections were unplanned
• More than 1 in 3 (36%) women did not have a birth plan, which is an opportune time for a patient to speak with their doctor about pain management options, including non-opioids
• 38% of women are open to pain management options, but think some kinds of pain medications are or could be harmful to them or their baby

Opioids and childbirth:

• 19% believe they are fine for other procedures, but not childbirth
• 25% believe they will be able to handle the pain without opioids
• 21% have no issue taking opioids
• 35% prefer to let their doctors decide what is best
• Nearly nine-in-ten (88%) of mothers have concerns about taking opioids during and after childbirth. Despite these concerns, more than half (51%) of C-section patients are prescribed an opioid.

Leading concerns surrounding opioids and childbirth:

• Breastfeeding/impact on baby: 53%
• Side effects: 52%
• Nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed fear the risk of dependence or addiction
• While C-section patients had more opioids and anesthetics in the hospital and at home, they were less satisfied with their overall pain management
• 44% of C-section mothers were not completely satisfied with how their pain was managed during birth

The US is currently in the throes of an opioid crisis.

Interesting facts:

There were more than 42,000 deaths attributed to opioids in 2016, and 40% of all opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
In 2012, there were 793 million doses of opioids prescribed in Ohio, enough to supply every man, woman, and child, with 68 pills each. Roughly 20 percent of the state’s population was prescribed an opioid in 2016. And Ohio leads the nation in overdose deaths.
The state of Ohio has sued five major drug manufacturers for their role in the opioid epidemic.
The Justice Department report shows that federal prosecutors investigating the company found that Big Pharma knew about “significant” abuse of opioids in the first years after the drug’s introduction in 1996 and concealed that information. For children growing up in the shadow of the opioid crisis, public schools have become the safety net of last resort.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) statistics report that one in 10 Native American children will use prescription opioids for nonmedical use — twice the rate of white children.

Our church supports charities to counter the opioid epidemic, like Brigid’s Path.

Have you experienced a Caesarean section birth? What was it like?

Linking up: Modest Mom, Our Holiday Journey, Create with Joy, Inspiration for Moms, Life on Oak Hill, Holley Gerth, Darling Downs Diaries, MaryAndering Creatively, Chicken Chick, Mrs. AOK, Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Trekking Thru, Home Stories A to Z, Timeless Mama, Abounding Grace, Purposeful Faith, LouLou Girls, April Harris, Jaime Wiebel, Meghan Weyerbacher, Wise Woman, Jessi’s Design, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Our Three Peas, Gingersnap Crafts, Sarah Frazer, Soaring with Him, Mississippi Mom, Marilyn’s Treats, Creative K Kids, Organized 31, Debbie Kitterman, Marilyn’s Treat Th, Be Thee Inspired, Quietly Reminded, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Create with Joy Fri, Simply Sweet Home, Coffee with Us3, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Chic on a Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, Cup of Tea, Momfessionals, Blended Blog, Susan Mead, OMHG Fri, Charm of Home, Lyli Dunbar, Crystal Waddell, Counting My Blessings, Arabah Joy, Life with Lorelai, Being a Wordsmith, Our Mini Family, 

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Home Workout Inspiration

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If you’re someone who absolutely adores social media, you might have an Instagram account. Along with millions of active users, you’re probably enthralled by the app’s sleek design and diverse content.

If you’re starting a new health and wellness journey, there are so many ways to incorporate Instagram into the mix.

Consider these ways Instagram can be a great guide to optimal health:

1. Meal Prep

There are hundreds of Instagram accounts that are specifically dedicated to healthy eating. Many of the accounts demonstrate how to cook healthy yet delicious meals and stick to a certain diet. Whether you subscribe to a gluten-free diet or a vegan diet or anything else in between, there’s plenty of accounts and hashtags to follow and learn from. The pictures always make me hungry.

2. Trainers

If you don’t have a membership at the local gym, it tends to be harder to find a trainer in your area. Thankfully, Instagram has hashtags. You can put your city in the search engine along with the type of trainer you’re looking for. It’ll take some perusing and scrolling perhaps. However, you can find a trainer in your area. If people in your local circle post about their workouts and trainers online, check to see who they use. When a trainer has a presence on Instagram, they tend to use it to validate and showcase their services. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re walking into. Some even travel to your home or work or offer online sessions!

3. Workout Ideas

If you’ve ever been in the midst of a workout regimen to lose weight, it’s not uncommon to experience a plateau. When this happens, there’s a struggle to continue losing the weight. In order to break past the plateau, it’s important to focus on a variety of elements. Perhaps, you’re not getting enough sleep. You might want to eat more vegetables and cut out certain carb-heavy foods. You might also want to try different workouts. Instagram fitness influencers provide a range of workout regimens. You can find everything from Kettlebell workouts to aerial yoga workouts on Instagram. There are times when it’s going to take a lot more than a simple jog to get the weight off. In addition to using home gym equipment, get inspiration from the workouts you see in the app. It’d be a great idea to create a workout list and use the inspiration from Instagram to build a variety of workouts. As you try the different workouts throughout the week, your body has a better chance of breaking past the plateau. I keep a health journal to monitor my progress.

What ways have you used Instagram for healthy lifestyle inspiration?


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It’s OK That You’re Not OK

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My thoughts go out to the family and friends of Kate Spade.

“Mental health issues do not discriminate. By all accounts, Kate Spade “had it all”-money, success, fame. None of these things matter when you are sick. Kate was not selfish. Kate was not weak. Kate was sick.” ~Twitter.

Kate Spade was 55 years old.

Spade created a line of sleek handbags in the early 1990s that created a smash. Her company, Kate Spade New York, has over 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the U.S. and more than 175 shops internationally.

Her 13-year-old daughter was at school, and officials said a note was found at the scene, telling her it was not her fault. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Then I wake up to news that Anthony Bourdain allegedly committed suicide in France. He was 61.

His mother, Gladys Bourdain, who was a longtime editor at The New York Times, said she had no indication that Mr. Bourdain might have been thinking of suicide. “He is absolutely the last person in the world I would have ever dreamed would do something like this,” Ms. Bourdain said.

This hit me hard. I have always loved his shows and personality. I’m so sad.

And it’s true that anyone can suffer from mental illness, depression…and contemplate or succeed with committing suicide.

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you… You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” ~Anthony Bourdain

If you’re struggling, please reach out. Mental illness is treatable, help is available, and suicide is preventable. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting “BRAVE” to 741-741 for free crisis support or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ‘1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Guidelines for reporting on suicide. These guidelines can save lives.

As author of the newly published book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine says that while the conversation around Spade’s death may focus on how people need access to good healthcare/resources in order to prevent suicide, people like Ms. Spade, Robin Williams, and many others have LOTS of resources at their disposal. Access is important, says Devine, but the stigma attached to asking for help is the actual barrier.

There’s still so much stigma around suicide, including:

What causes suicide more than anything else: “The “cheer up, it’s not that bad” cult of positivity, that pervasive pathologizing of sadness, that eternal advice culture that says it’s your fault if anything is wrong.

People go silent, and silence can kill you. “Life is hard sometimes. Life hurts. When we can’t come to that with respect and kindness – when we can’t respond to that in ourselves and in each other – with respect and kindness, people go silent, and silence can kill you.”

Spade’s suicide comes as suicide rates in the U.S. increased for everyone between the ages of 10 and 74 from 1999 to 2014, according to the CDC.


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How to Keep Your Kids Safer in the Sun

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Kids are more vulnerable to damage from the sun than adults. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer.

The best sunscreen is a hat and shirt. After that, protect kids with a sunscreen that’s effective and safe.

These tips will help you keep kids of all ages safe in the sun.

Infants

Infants under 6 months should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin.

When you take your baby outside:

· Cover them up with protective clothing that is tightly woven but loose-fitting, and a sun hat.

· Make shade. Use the stroller’s canopy or hood. If you can’t sit in a shady spot, use an umbrella.

· Avoid midday sun. Take walks in the early morning or late afternoon.

· Follow product warnings for sunscreens on infants younger than 6 months old. Most manufacturers advise against using sunscreens on infants, or advise parents and caregivers to consult a doctor first.

Toddlers and children

Sunscreens are an essential part of a day in the sun. But young children’s skin is especially sensitive to chemical allergens – as well as the sun’s UV rays.

· Test sunscreen by applying a small amount on the inside of your child’s wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops, try another product. Ask your child’s doctor to suggest a product less likely to irritate your child’s skin. Or make your own!

· Apply plenty of sunscreen and reapply it often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests about one ounce of sunscreen per application for a child.

Teens

Teenagers coveting bronzed skin are likely to sunbathe, patronize tanning salons, or buy self-tanning products – all of which are bad ideas. Researchers believe that increasing UV exposure may have caused the marked increase in melanoma incidence noted among women born after 1965. Tanning parlors expose the skin to as much as 15 times more UV radiation than the sun and likely contribute to the melanoma increase. Many chemicals in self-tanning products have not been tested for safety.

Parents of teens should be good role models – let your teen see that you protect yourself from the sun. Tan does not mean healthy.

Sun safety at school

Sometimes school and daycare policies interfere with children’s sun safety. Many schools treat sunscreen as a medicine and require written permission to use it on a child. Some insist that only the school nurse apply it. Some ban hats and sunglasses as distractions.

Here are a few questions to ask your school, daycare, or camp:

· What is the policy on sun safety?

· Is there shade on the playground?

· Are outdoor activities scheduled to avoid midday sun?

 

5 Natural Ways to Prevent Sunburns

Vitamin D

While the sun helps us to manufacture vitamin D, consuming vitamin D rich foods like cod liver oil and/or supplementing with quality source of oral vitamin D3 can in turn help to protect us from the UV radiation of the sun. What a brilliant cycle nature created! Learn how to best absorb vitamin D from your foods and you may very well find that your tolerance to sun exposure increases significantly.

Healthy Fats

It’s true, healthy fats do truly relate to everything. Including stable, robust fats in the diet is crucial to resilient skin. Dietary fats and oils provide building blocks for skin tissues. Logically, if your skin is enriched with fragile oils, it will be much more sensitive to damage by the sun.

Minerals

Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc and magnesium can cause photosensitivity and sun rashes. Be sure to have your mineral status checked and consume mineral rich foods from both plant and animal sources. Bone broths and organ meats like liver are particularly balanced in trace minerals.

Coconut Oil

It may be delicious to eat, but coconut oil is also a powerful healing agent when applied to the skin. There is anecdotal evidence showing that Polynesians frequently rubbed this precious oil on before spending long periods of time in the sun. Although it has been tested to block only about 20% of the sun’s rays, its value lies more in the powerful antioxidants it releases into the skin, which bolster natural defenses and prevents damage from long term sun exposure. Try making your own whipped coconut oil lotion.

Astaxanthin

This unique compound is a super-antioxidant found in algae and the organisms that consume it such as salmon, shrimp, krill and flamingos. Pink-red in color (hint: think about the animals that eat it), this substance has been growing in popularity as an “internal sunscreen.” Several trials using human cells have shown it to have protective effects on the skin. Although it may not turn our skin quite as romantic a hue as a flamingo, many people experience skin benefits and an enhanced ability to tan from consuming astaxanthin or krill oil.

 

Click here for my homemade sunscreen recipe!

 


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Achievable Goals

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Everybody is making resolutions and choosing their word for the new year.

I’m inside, trying to stay warm with temps in the single digits. Sure, the last couple years have been pretty hard-hitting.

Overall, I felt like I was pretty successful in the personal growth department.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with resolutions that seem great now, but aren’t very achievable, then getting discouraged as it all fizzles out.

It’s important to make small goals that are actually attainable.

Instead of doing less of something, let’s discuss what we can do more of.

Achievable Goals

  1. Get more sleep.

    Go to bed earlier. Turn off the electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Don’t lie in bed and use your devices (at least turn the blu light off). It helps with overall better health. I’ve been going to bed along with the kids and I feel better lately.

  2. Be adventurous.

    Go on a trip. Be more spontaneous. Try a new dish at the restaurant. Meet someone new. Call up someone you haven’t talked to in ages. Adventure means something different for everyone.

  3. Manage money wisely.

    Pay off debt, but don’t go broke doing that. Start adding a little into savings or put change in a jar. Make coffee and lunches at home instead of grabbing on the go. Start investing and planning for retirement or kids’ educations.

  4. Minimize your closet.

    Donate what you haven’t worn in a year. Don’t keep what you don’t love. Find your style and color scheme. Update with some new classic accessories or timeless pieces.

  5. Positive talk

    Reframe negative situations. Look for the positive details in your experiences and conversations and focus on those positive details. Also, focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.

  6. Use sunscreen.

    Protect your skin. Use a good natural sunscreen and cover up or go into shade during the prime sun times of the day.

  7. Purge

    Who needs more printables? Decluttering is good for the soul. Minimize your stuff. If you need containers to organize your stuff, you have too much stuff.

  8. Eating healthier

    Eat balanced and in moderation, mostly plants.
    Diets are so restrictive. Use smaller plates. Stock up on new seasonal veggies. Try new recipes every week. Drink green tea. Drink more water.

  9. Fitness

    You don’t have to waste time and money on a gym membership. Baby steps. There’s always room for improvement. Lift some small weights. Do some sit-ups. Do some pilates on the floor. Walk around the block. There are oodles of free YouTube videos to help get started with at home fitness routines.

  10. Read.

    There are so many books and so little time.
    Need some ideas? I’m reading The Little Stranger and vegan cookbooks this week.

  11. Respect

    Seriously, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
    This goes for parenting too. Respect your kids. Have empathy. Don’t give ultimatums. Don’t use force. Don’t raise your voice or your hands.

  12. Get angry.

    There’s so much wrong in the world.
    So many -isms. All these government issues. So many hurting people. Poverty. Hatred. War.
    What are you doing to help?

What are your achievable goals?

Linking up: Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Our Holiday Journey, Barbie Swihart, Inspiration for Moms, Create with Joy, Holley Gerth, God-Sized Dreams, Blessed But Stressed, Squishable Baby, A Woman in Her Prime, The Quiet Homemaker, Trekking Thru, Confessions of a New Mummy, Sweet Parrish Place, MaryAndering Creatively, Modest Mom, Timeless Mama, Meghan Weyerbacher, Purposeful Faith, Home Stories A to Z, LouLou Girls, Teaching What is Good, April Harris, Simple life of a Fire Wife, Jessi’s Design, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Gingersnap Crafts, Ducks in a Row, Oh My Heartsie Girl w, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Sincerely Paula, Quietly Reminded, Soaring with Him, Imparting Grace, Mommynificent, Penny’s Passion, Katherine’s Corner, Flourishing Today, Debbie Kitterman, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Organized 31, A Bountiful Love, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids T, Simply Sweet Home, Missional Women, Creative K Kids F, Nancy on the Home Front, The Charm of Home, Counting My Blessings, Create with Joy, Coffee With Us3, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Happy and Blessed Home, Anna Nuttall, The Answer is Chocolate, Being a Wordsmith, Momfessionals, Bright on a Budget, The Blended Blog, Susan Mead, Arabah Joy, Becoming Press, Journeys in Grace, Life with Lorelai, Lyli Dunbar, Our Mini Family,

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Easy Ways to Increase Your Daily Vitamin C Intake

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Vitamin C is one of the most helpful of all vitamins. It can give your immune system the boost that it needs to help you get through cold and flu season without a single sniffle, make you recover faster from common illnesses and let your body recuperate from injuries quicker too. While you probably know that fresh fruit and some juices are high in this vitamin, you might not realize that other foods contain the vitamin too. There are some simple and easy ways to boost your daily Vitamin C intake without spending a lot of time or money.

Cool Treats

Kiwi is a fruit that is extremely high in Vitamin C and one that you’ll see appearing on grocery store shelves in the late spring. Instead of just cutting one in half and eating the inside with a spoon, use kiwis to beat the heat on a hot summer day. Peel the furry skin away from the fruit, toss the fruit in a blender with a small amount of water or your favorite fruit juice to create a thick liquid. Pour the liquid into an ice cube trap or a popsicle tray that you freeze for several hours or overnight. You can also pour the liquid into a ceramic dish and freeze. Scraping the top of the liquid every few hours turns this simple recipe into a granita.

Make Your Own Veggie Tray

Some of the veggies that contain a lot of natural Vitamin C include red and green peppers and broccoli. The next time you bring home groceries from the store, wash those vegetables in cool water and cut into thin strips or small pieces. Divide the veggies into small bags that you keep on the top shelf of your refrigerator or in another convenient spot. When you’re in the mood for a snack, you can grab one of those bags and enjoy all the benefits of Vitamin C. You can dip those veggies into peanut butter, hummus or your favorite dip.

Change the Way You Cookout

Hosting a backyard cookout is a great way to relax and have fun with friends, but if you’re like most people, you probably stick to the same foods and condiments. Don’t top your hot dogs with the same old ketchup and mustard. Try reaching for a jar of sauerkraut instead. Though it might seem hard to believe, sauerkraut is high in Vitamin C. You can use store bought or make your own. If you feel like trying something even more different, consider topping grilled burgers and dogs with kimchi, a spicy Asian condiments that is high in Vitamin C.

Grab and Go

One of the easiest ways to increase your daily intake of Vitamin C is with vitamin supplements. When you buy vitamins online, you can purchase supplements that contain all the vitamins and minerals that you need. Instead of changing your diet, you can down a vitamin on your way out the door in the morning, once you finish a workout or even before you head to bed. These supplements are available in smaller bottles that are perfect for keeping in your desk drawer at work or in your bag too.

Make Your Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a lot of Vitamin C, but when you choose canned or jarred tomatoes, you’ll get less of the vitamin. While sun-dried tomatoes are a better option, many companies pack those tomatoes in jars with oil that detract from the flavor of the vegetable and add to the calories that you consume. You can make your own sun-dried tomatoes at home. All you need is a few tomatoes that you slice thinly and a place to set those slices in or near direct sunlight. The sun will dry out the moisture in the tomatoes. You can do the same thing in a food dehydrator or in an oven set to the lowest temperature.

Whether you buy Vitamin C online or make some changes to your diet, you can get all the benefits of this great vitamin. Use simple recipes and ideas to increase your daily intake of Vitamin C and to eat a little healthier.

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The Foundation For Fighting Blindness PSA

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When I was a single mom, I met a lovely lady, Debra, who suffered from macular degeneration. She attended the Sunday school class I taught single moms on finances through Crown Ministries.
Since she was legally blind and unable to drive, Debra relied on friends and family to get her to church and doctor’s appointments and other necessary events. I was on her call list.

Macular degeneration can be hereditary. Her beautiful daughter (inside and out) was already experiencing similar symptoms, and she was only in her late teens. I remember how her apple tasted and looked – with pretty little piecrust leaves and flowers, and I have never been able to make one anywhere near like it, thought I keep trying!

She invited me and my toddler daughter to a fun 4th of July celebration with a huge firework show at her house in a fly-in airport subdivision. It was magical and I felt right at home with her family.

She always had a great attitude and was so cheerful to be around. She was truly a light in the darkness. I’m sure she must have hidden her fears and anger over losing her sight and only showed the public a positive front.

That was almost 15 years ago. I don’t even remember how we lost touch, but I think she moved away. Then, when I met my husband, we started attending a different church and soon moved out of state.

I can’t imagine the fear of losing the sense of sight. I wish I knew more about Debra’s condition. I wonder with the more modern technology, if there are improved options for her eye health today?

We take it for granted, being able to view sunsets and art, read, enjoy the smile of my children.

Jesus healed the blind, so we should care about people who are blind, learn more about a common curable eye disease, AMD.

While keeping your body fit, make sure you keep your eyes healthy too!

Learn more about AMD here:

Download this FREE guide:

 http://bit.ly/2nAezey

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Chocolate Spice Cookies

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These Chocolate Spice Cookies are a hit with my family and anywhere I choose to take them.

Chocolate Spice Cookies
My girls love to help in the kitchen, especially when cookies are involved!

These chocolatey cinnamon cookies are warm and delicious.

A perfect holiday treat!
cookie-bakers

We love using essential oils in baking. They have a strong flavor and aroma.

Cinnamon bark oil makes chocolate delectable!
cookies-ready-for-the-oven
baked-chocolate-spice-cookies
chocolate-spice-cookies

These cookies smell amazing and they’re just the right amount of spice!

Print Recipe
 Chocolate Spice Cookies
Cuisine Holiday
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
dozen
Ingredients
Cuisine Holiday
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
dozen
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Melt 1/2 chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave.
  2. Cream butter and sugars.
  3. Add eggs. Beat until light in color. Add vanilla, cinnamon or oil, and pepper.
  4. Add melted chocolate to sugar mixture. Mix well.
  5. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
  6. Add dry ingredients to wet, folding in just until mixed. Fold in the remainder of the chocolate chips
  7. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet.
  8. Bake 375* for about 10 minutes or until crackly on top.
Share this Recipe


More fun Holiday Dessert Recipes:

Kids’ Kitchen: Best Gingerbread Cookies | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Cookies | The Gifted Gabber

Christmas Ice Cream Sandwiches | Kitchen Counter Chronicles

How to Make Fluffy and Tasty Coconut Whipped Cream | Living Montessori Now

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Homemade Laundry Detergent

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A couple of us in the family have sensitive skin, so traditional laundry detergents are irritating to us.

The more natural detergents can be really expensive and many soaps without scent leave my clothes smelling…like vomit.

I’ve experimented with several brands that don’t make my clothes smell good.

I’ve tried several recipes from homemade detergent and this one has been working well for us.

It’s really easy and not very expensive to make. It smells great and no skin irritation. It lasts about 2 months!

I only use a tablespoon or so every laundry load and my clothes smell great!

So, let’s make some laundry detergent!

Gather the ingredients!

Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Detergent

The recipe is super simple. My daughters make it now for our family!

We grate two bars of Dr. Bonner’s castile unscented soap.

Grating Soap

Love Grating Soap

The grated soap looks like little worms. Heehee

It already smells fresh and clean.

Grated Soap

We add two cups each of borax, washing soda, and Oxi-clean.

We add 20 or so drops of essential oil. We like lavender or melaleuca (but not together!). Some people recommend lemon, and I’m sure that smells amazing, but I worry it might bleach the clothes if I hang them to dry in the sun.

Then we shake it all up in this handy pourable container.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

We pour out a couple tablespoons for each laundry load. I don’t really measure it. I don’t fill the dispenser in our washer.

The clothes come out smelling much more fresh than they used to and no irritated skin!

We also use wool dryer balls with a bit of lavender essential oil.


Print Recipe
 Homemade Laundry Detergent
Prep Time 5-10 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5-10 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Grate bar soap and mix all ingredients in a jar.
  2. Use 1-2 T each wash load.
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