Pregnancy, Delivery and Recovery in Japan

Many people have thought it crazy that I would have my second child in Japan instead of America... me being one of them.

It was extremely nerve racking to think about having Kira in a place unknown to me.

I was 20 weeks pregnant when we arrived in Japan. Once in the system, I had my first of many regular checkups. The hospital I went to had a normal check of: Pee in a cup, wait for your number to be screened, stand on the scale for weight check, blood pressure check in machine, ultrasound, possible blood check and vaginal examination then go into a separate room to talk with a midwife about all the results and next steps.

First off, there is so much paper work and always tons of questions. They are extremely thorough every time. During the ultrasound, they check the weight by measuring the head and femur bone, check all the arteries and always do a 4D sonogram on the face. I did not have a specific doctor. Basically whoever is working, will help deliver the baby. Thankfully my favorite doctor came for Kira’s birth.

In Japan, weight gain is a big deal to the doctors. They were always on me about my weight. They said it is easier to deliver the baby with less weight gain. It felt discouraging at times because I felt I was doing well but I had to understand it is a different culture and I am a different body type. It gave me comfort having had given birth before.

When getting an examination, you go into a room and sit in a chair with a curtain in front of you. The chair then lifts up and basically turns into stirrups. I call it the “fun chair.” It is basically your own mini roller coaster. They keep the curtain hiding your faces for "privacy," as many people are shy. They will talk to you to tell you what all they are going to do.

Later in pregnancy, they do a baby movement check every appointment. Two monitors are placed on your stomach and it monitors the baby’s heartbeat and movement, as well as the tightness the mother feels.
**During my pregnancy, at 35 weeks I had this check. I began having intense contractions. It felt like strong tightness and pressure but no pain. I was monitored for over an hour and they were surprised there was no pain. The doctor recommended me to stay in the hospital on IV for 10 days.
Dan and I chose for me to go home and be on bed rest. They gave me pills to stop the contractions.
Once arriving home, I spoke out verses and confessions over myself and Kira and the contractions stopped. I never had them to that extent again until labor.
I was on bed rest for about three weeks. Thankfully Dan was amazing and took care of me and Caellum. He made dinners, took him to play, helped me in and out of bed at times, etc.
Another time, I was having terrible pain in my pelvic area. Dan prayed and it immediately went away. God did so many great things in my pregnancy (with Caellum and Kira).
Around 20 weeks I read a book called "Supernatural Childbirth" by Jackie Mize.
It's an encouraging book about having a pain free quick and easy childbirth with results of a healthy baby and mother (containing many testimonies).  After reading the book, I made a confession and prayer booklet. I had many verses and specific prayers I spoke out at least 5+ times a week up to her birth. I believed for a quick, painless, easy, supernatural childbirth. If God did it for others, He would do it for me. The Bible says we were cursed since the first sin and women would have child pain. Yet in the New Testament we know we are now redeemed from the curse and Jesus took it all for us. I believed and hung on to every word. Dan was 100% in agreement with me.

My due date was February 21. Awhile back, Dan and I had asked God to speak to us on when we would have Kira. I heard God say February 17 and sure enough, she came then! During that morning I was having irregular tightness. After Caellum went down for an early nap, Dan and I were watching one of our favorite TV shows (The Flash). My contractions started happening 10 minutes apart. They became more and more intense but were not truly hurting until an hour before going to the hospital. At 11am I had consistent contractions. At 1pm we left for the hospital. I was dilated to 8cm upon arrival. They quickly took me to a room and put me in a gown and in stirrups. The doctor got dressed and ready. In two contractions I dilated to 9cm. The doctor broke my water and in one more contraction, I had terrible pain and started pushing. In eight excruciating pushes, Kira was born. After much pressure, the placenta finally came then the doctor was able to do stiches. In the midst of pushing, the doctor told me he would perform an episiotomy. I freaked out crying (because I believed to not have to have one). Thankfully I did not feel it and it did help! I truly became a Jackel and Hyde within those thirty minutes of delivery. I was in testimony of how contractions don’t hurt me then I became a psycho screaming in pain and asking my husband to keep praying and to pray harder! Everyone kept telling me to relax and breath but I had no concept of either at the time. The pain and pressure I felt in those moments I will never forget (but I hope it wears off in time). I was also upset because I kept telling Dan “it’s not working.”

Why didn’t I receive the PAIN-FREE childbirth I so heavily believed for and had heard numerous testimonies of? I do not know! BUT I DO know God answered many other prayers I had taken for granted that day. The contractions were minimal pain (if any compared to pushing), it was quick and easy for the most part, it happened on February 17, we were both fully healthy, I had my favorite doctor, and it happened in the afternoon after Caellums naptime. Kira was 8.5 pounds. You see, since I believed for completely no pain, I had NO information or clue about how a natural birth even worked (as I had had an epidural with Caellum that lasted many hours and was a harder recovery). I did not know when to push or how to position myself or how to breathe (what to focus on). Once again I am extremely thankful now looking back on it that God helped me persevere. I remember seeing how ridiculous the movies make natural births look. But it is SO TRUE! It is amazing to think about the turmoil our bodies can go through and how they can heal. I recall myself repeating over and over after she came out, “I did it. I did it.”

I was very hesitant in writing this blog because right after delivery I felt traumatized by the experience and was scared to ever think of the possibility of being pregnant again. **My hospital did offer an epidural. I said I wanted a natural childbirth (yet the option was always there)… also by the time I got to the hospital, I would not have had time to have gotten one if I wanted.
Now looking back I can see Gods hand through it all and the love I have for my child makes me beyond grateful.

About the hospital stay and recovery…
After giving birth, a woman will stay in the hospital for four days. After I gave birth, they did some tests on Kira and cleaned her up. I recovered for a while then they came in and changed everything on me. The midwife came and cleaned me everywhere with warm towels and put a new gown on me. Around 6pm, they brought me dinner. The food served at my hospital was amazing! It was all Japanese dishes but I do love Japanese food for the most part! After dinner, they took me to my room and took the baby to the nursery for the night while I recovered. Dan left to pick up Caellum and go home for the night. ((During all of this, Caellum was at the churches preschool having a blast and then went to Yoshi’s and played there… we were incredibly worried about him being away from us since he never is. Thankfully he did amazing and it was a relief to not have to worry about it during all of the transition)). That evening I relaxed and was in and out of sleep. No one really came to bother me for the whole night. The days started at 6am and I would have a new nurse come in and greet me. They were caring and loving by always have a chart in English. They would point to a question and we would interact with little Japanese and English and a lot of charades ha-ha. I felt cared for and like a priority. In the morning I had breakfast and had a few more checkups/clean ups. Also next to the nursery, there is a room every mother goes to (if desired) to feed the baby. There were pillows and tons of cloths and boppys. We would all nurse our babies in there and the nurses would walk around and help us. (It is very common to nurse here and try not to do formula).  It was nice to feel I was in the same boat as all the other moms. I met a mother at one ‘session’ who spoke English. She had her baby one day before me. She had learned English from American pastors at a Baptist church in my city as well as in Canada short term. She told Dan and I that she has been singing gospel for 12 years but was not a Christian (very common in Japan). On a side note… she came to same bye before we left the hospital and we got to pray for her. She was the sweetest!

Kira did an amazing job at latching on and eating well. Unfortunately over a few days my milk came in heavily (and still is) with oversupply and a strong let down. Although she is still doing amazing now three weeks later and has great weight gain. Throughout the next few days there were many checkups and questions with a lot of quiet time of recovery and nursing sessions. My room consisted of a bed, sink, 2 chairs, night stand, small table, and a fridge and TV (to pay if I wanted to use). The hospital provided EVERYTHING I needed. The bathrooms were down the hall and the shower room was a few floors above. They provided me with new clothes to borrow daily after showering, fresh towels and cloths, all toiletries, pads, nursing pads, diapers and wipes, slippers, etc. The shower rooms had soaps and everything I would need. There was a dressing area and ‘get ready’ area with chairs, blow dryers and lotions. I LOVED going in there while the nurses watched Kira. There’s nothing like that first shower after childbirth…

One of the last nights, the hospital had a complimentary dinner for our new family. Dan and Caellum came and we went to the 6^th floor to enjoy some interesting Japanese dishes. Since Caellum was busy we quickly ate and explored with him. He did not care too much to come to the hospital and did not know how to react around Kira at first. He wanted to play, explore and wanted me to go home with them. At this hospital, only the mom and baby stay. Visiting hours are from morning until 8pm. There are bigger rooms available on other hospital floors for extra cost.

The first few days I stayed in the hospital, I felt sad and lonely because I did not know the language, had no friends to come visit me and could not be with my husband or family. Another unfortunate part was the fact that the rooms were thin and outside was loud from the snow plowing and ambulance cars. A great thing was my hallway consisted of all the same rooms filled with recovering mothers and hungry sleepy babies which gave me a peace and unity with it all. Sometimes mothers would be walking around trying to comfort the cries of their newborns, others would be trying to scurry to the bathroom or head to the elevator to take a fresh shower. Everyone understood each other even though few words were spoken.

At times when I felt lonely, a simple smile or head bow from others filled me with peace. Anytime I went to the nursing area, I felt uplifted because of the encouragement and sweet smiles of the nurses. Once time got close to leave, I found myself wanting to stay. To be cared for and to be able to bond with my child one on one before coming home was extremely beneficial.

Now at times I tell Dan I miss the hospital. There were no obligations or responsibilities. I had great food and was cared for immensely. Even on the day of being released, I had a doctor do my checkup that spoke ‘true’ English and made me feel comfortable. They taught me how to thoroughly give Kira a bath and watched me do it. ((Fun fact… Japanese parents keep the umbilical cord in a keepsakes box of their children… eww… lol… needless to say, we threw hers away)). I also received a free AMAZING oil hand massage and a gift of 200 new born baby diapers from the hospital. It is crazy how many diapers a new born baby goes through… I surely thought that 200 would be too many but we are down to one of our last packs and she is only three weeks old!

Overall, I used minimal pain killers and have had a GREAT recovery! Kira has been doing wonderful (although she wants to co-sleep and be held a lot… not a problem with me!) and Caellum has been the sweetest big brother. He may not do a lot or say much but he will hold her hand, touch her feet or babble to her in his own way at times.

I am nervous of now being a mother of two but I am also blessed by it. Dan’s parents have been staying with us the day after we arrived home from the hospital. They have been a HUGE help in all this transition. I hope it continues to go this well once they leave. My biggest concern is how to keep Caellum entertained or happy when I am nursing her or have to be holding her as well. Either way, I know we will all figure it out over time and over trial and error. I also have to say, I would not have been able to accomplish such a great pregnancy, delivery and recovery without our friends Yoshi and Ayumi. She went to every doctor’s appointment with me, she was there for Kira’s birth and in my hospital stay to help translate and be a support. I am BEYOND grateful for her and her help more than she realizes.

Japan was an amazing place to have Kira. Every hospital of course is different (as it is in America) but I would not trade the experience at all!

One Month in Transition

Hey everyone!

We have all been adjusting slowly but surely. It is has been a challenge in some areas and an enjoyment in others. Traveling to Japan was good. 3 hours to Toronto, 13 hours to Tokyo, 1.5 hours to Sapparo, 2 hour drive to Asahikawa. Caellum did great! He made a lot of people smile, took good naps and ate well. Adjusting to time change is another story (14 hours ahead of US).
Unfortunately upon arrival, Caellum had stomach problems and Dan had to go to the clinic for an oncoming cold. We are grateful we received insurance easily and quickly.    
              

                                      

The family we have been staying with and will do ministry with have been more than amazing! They have fed us, taken us to all the places we need to go and have helped us adjust easier.

We have learned a lot in a short period of time and will continue to do so. We have attended the church of the international school we plan to help out at. Church is done differently here. Once worship is done, most moms will bring their children to the nursery upstairs where they have the sermon playing on the TV. After service we all have lunch together. Usually the kids and moms will eat together in the nursery (easier set up/clean up).

Things have been crazy and hectic I feel. It has been hard to adapt easily. I have had so many doubts and concerns (a result of not spending time in the Bible and in prayer I believe). Because things are very different, it has been hard not to have “familiarity.” All buildings are close together and there’s not much land. There are wires everywhere (telephone pole kind). Most cars are small. Everything (with the exception of some things) is written in symbols (Japanese of course). It has been hard to be completely dependent on someone else to basically survive. It is hard not to feel like a burden being reliant on others. It has been lonely at times too because we cannot speak the language. Others are very friendly at the church but we cannot hold long conversations. Thankfully there are some English speaking individuals that help us feel more at “home.”

 

I have had reservations about moving into our home. Finding a car has been quite the hassle because our home is ‘low’ and the garage is ‘low.’ We have had to make sure we have heaters for the winter, get a fridge and washing machine (as we would have had to moving anywhere). We also have to DIY a baby gate for our dangerous stairs (ha-ha). It has been a lot more work moving somewhere than I thought it would be. Buying necessities has been overwhelming. Even going to the grocery store was quite the experience. In the states I could make our grocery list based on isle number… now I cannot find anything without taking forever or asking!

 

I am grateful for Dan being our family’s rock during this transition. It seems we are always in a whirlwind. Married, 5 days later moving to CFNI, moving to a bigger CFNI apartment, graduating and moving to Plano, moving to Magnolia and then now moving across the world to Japan in less than 4 years. Having a 1.5 year old and having a baby girl in a brand new country (the experience to the Dr’s itself was overwhelming not having anyone speak English except my friend interpreting). It is ONLY by the grace of God that I am still following His will. In all my ups and downs, Dan has been positive and loving.

We are still in transition, getting things for our house and learning the language… learning the culture. My friend will be having her third baby in December and our daughter is due in February. After we are all in the ‘swing’ of things, we will start the international church out of our friend’s home. The winter and snow will come soon and we will remain positive and stay warm.

Please pray for us when you think of us. We appreciate everyone’s support!
 

Here are some things I have learned in Japan:

Shopping:

*Most stores have carts or cool ‘baby holders’ that you can attach baskets to. It’s rare to see a mom pushing around her own stroller.

*You have to go to different stores for your needs (there’s not a Walmart Supercenter that sells everything you want in one place).

*The main mall here has a HUGE grocery store inside and a gardening area.

Culture:

*Food is only for the kitchen/dining room table. You do not eat anywhere else (no breakfast in bed!).

*Shoes are always taken off in the entry way.

*PDA is not a big thing here (especially around the older generation).

*Couples going on dates are not common.

*Many people find their identity in their job. Some work from 6am to 11pm trying to prove themselves diligent because they do not want to lose their job to someone working harder than them.

*You typically don’t wave, instead you bow (to show respect).

*People do not typically hug…even close friends.

*A lot of individuals wear face masks (covers from the nose, down) for protection of sickness.

*Children usually sleep with their parents until the age of 5-6.

*Everything takes a long time to get here! Wifi takes about two weeks to get someone to come hook it up. A used car takes about a week to get because paper work has to be filed with the government first. SIM cards for phones take about 10 days to get.

Food:

*Rice, soup and a meat are served with almost every meal. Most meals you will find lots of veggies!

*Flour and some dairy products are more expensive here because there is not a lot of land to farm these items and a lot of it is imported. Thus increasing the cost.

*There are NO ovens. You can buy an American sized oven for around $2,000. The microwaves here are bigger and act as a microwave and small oven to bake small portions.

*There is: KFC, Subway, Mc D’s, Pizza Hut.

*Some of the big types of food are: Japanese, Italian, Chinese then so on.

*You do not tip here. Workers are paid well enough and most likely will not accept tips.

Cars:

*Some gas stations have people who pump your gas for you and wash your windows (no tips).

*Some gas stations have the pumps coming from the ceiling.

*When buying a used car, it is normal to not look at it before buying it. People will not sell ‘junk.

*There are two ways to buy a car: through a dealer or an online auction.

*For cars, you have to pay yearly taxes ($60 for a small car, $400 for a big <guesstimate).

*Every two years you have to have an inspection which costs roughly $500.

*There are many good used cars because once a vehicle goes over 60,000 miles people consider it too old.

 

Entertainment:

*Some TV channels you can change to English with the touch of a button

*At the cinema most Hollywood films are in English with Japanese subtitles.

Living:

*One story homes are not common because Japan does not have a lot of land which causes most things to be close or built up.

*There are NO dryers here. You wash your clothes then you hang them. I have found it better to use softener with my clothes and will be doing a lot of ironing.

*The sun is usually down by 5-6pm and up around 5am. In the summer the sun sets at 7pm. (Curtains are a must have!)

*A lot of bedding here consists of a ‘futon’ which is a thick mat on a floor with a thinner mat on top that you sleep on. Most people will have these and fold them up in the beginning of the day so there is more room in the house.

*Houses are not very sound proof.

*You cannot park your car on the street, you must pull into your garage or driveway. You will be given a ticket if so.

In the Christian realm:

*There are not many Spirit-Led churches out of the few that are actually in Japan.

*There are no Christian stores or radio stations. The big beautiful churches here are just buildings used for wedding or events. As a business.

*Japanese culture is extremely respectful and they give God the highest honor but it is hard for them to have a casual relationship/strong friendship with God.

*From my understanding thus far, there are no radical lifestyles. People do not typically share their faith due to shyness or fear of being judge.

*In this culture I have heard it said time and time again it is important to build relationship and trust first before preaching gospel to someone (Biblically this is only part of the model that Jesus showed us).

*Most churches only have a piano and sing hymns for songs. It is considered  rare to have worship with a guitar and drums (The church we have gone to has those things).

*A megachurch here is 120+ members. The average size of a church is 20-30.

*The largest church in Japan is located in Tokyo with roughly 1,000 members.

*Gospel music is popular in Japan. Most people do not know what the songs are about.

*Non-Christians have no idea who God is or what prayer is. In America most people have a basic understanding.

Why Japan?

Hey there!

I wanted to share my heart about how Dan and I have come to make the life changing decision in moving to Japan. With the reality of leaving in a few weeks on a one way flight, nerves have begun to hit and speedy plans are being made. This has been an exciting/nerve racking adventure thus far!When we attended Christ for the Nations Inst. In Dallas, TX, we were sure we would attend the Leadership & Pastoral major. We would get our degree, work and serve in a church, become young pastors and live in a character home with a white picket fence (maybe a dog). The ‘Christian’ American Dream – win those to the Lord while making a huge success of yourself. We interned at YFN (CFNI’s Youth Camp). We were sure we would actually become youth pastors then later become pastors and capture all teenagers hearts with our testimonies about overcoming pornography and broken hearts. Once it was time to actually pick a major we decided we would pray about it. God led us to attend ‘Global Missions Major.’ My view of missions was wearing a grass skirt and living in a mud hut (I had no idea missions can be done in our own backyard!). We soon found I was pregnant with our first child and knew it would be too complicated to complete the second semester of GMM on the field with a four month old. After graduating, Dan worked at a financial company while we raised our son in his infant stage. Dan began dreading day after day staring at a computer screen. He knew he was to quit his job and we would continue in faith for the next step. That’s exactly what we did! He quit, we sold a lot and moved back in with Dan’s parents from Dallas to Houston, TX. Needless to say, it has been quite the transition with pros and cons. We found out my mother in law had breast cancer and thankfully we were here for any help she needed during her intense recovery. We had applied to go to a school called ACTS associated with IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Georgia. It would be three months state side training then three months on the field and after evaluation, we would make a two year commitment. We had everything paid for, money raised, plane tickets booked and items packed. On moving day we received a call that the school semester had been cancelled. Now what?! We were so confused on if we were hearing God right. In God’s plans, we are not the only ones that follow through… others need to as well for His will to happen. It ended up being a blessing for us! We truly did not need state side training and surprise, pregnant with second baby! (Not sure how it would have worked out in constant transition). We went back to the drawing board (prayer closet). By this time Japan was already on our hearts.

Japan: I am a dreamer. I have many dreams with lots of meaning and sometimes bring direction. One morning (November 2014), I woke up with *Tokyo* on my mind/heart. I thought maybe it was to pray for Japan. Then I started seeing Tokyo/Japan everywhere! That following day during one of Caellum’s baby shows, a ‘monster band’ started singing about Tokyo, Japan. Later I watched ‘Four Weddings’ (which I had not seen in years) during his nap. The winner gets a honeymoon to a romantic destination. Guess where this couple won?! Yup, Tokyo Japan! Every episode I have seen is all to Islands in the Caribbean… not an Asian country! Those are just two occurrences. Dan encountered a few people… one returned from a business trip in Japan, one was born in Japan, and one’s aunt was in Japan. We had things like this happen consistently for a few months. Then it all stopped. We knew we had to go. More so Dan did. God gave me the ‘vision’ and Dan has laid it out for us. I have gone back and forth with the idea but knowing it is the right thing in the end. I have felt I have let family members down or constantly hearing poor Caellum and next baby will not see his grandparents. Regardless, I answer to God and one day I will stand before Him and hold account to everything He asked me to do. I also refuse to alter my children’s destiny… especially if it is there for them in Japan.

Where are we going in Japan and through what church/ministry?
We will be in the most Northern island (the coldest!) called Hokkaido, in the city of Asahikawa. We will be under Dan’s parent’s ministry (Freedom Today Ministries) as our covering. One day Dan was at CFNI revisiting some friends of ours. He mentioned to them about our plans to go to Japan. His friend said you have to get together with this couple I know! Come to find out, they had lived two doors down from us most of our time at CFNI! They are a wonderful couple with two children and one on the way from Japan. They learned English and came to Dallas, TX to attend CFNI. After graduation, they would be moving back to their hometown of Asahikawa. Dan met with them and instantly connected. They had asked God to send an American family to come to Japan and partner with them. It was a true connection and we felt peace about moving forward. They will be our host family and help us as we get accommodated in Japan. Once settled in, we will all begin seeking God on His ministry for us to implement to His Japanese people.

As of now we are unsure of how long we will be in Japan. God does not always give the HUGE picture. He has given us a step at a time ‘plan’ and we are following the best we know to do. Dan is in Japan right now preparing the ground for us. He is finding housing, transportation, gathering pricing for our budget, building relationships and studying the culture. (That way we do not go in stressed or blind-sided). It has been extremely beneficial for our family!

Once arriving, Dan and I will be continuing to learn the language, explore around us, and learn as much about the culture as we can. We plan to have our second child in February in Japan. The father of the wife of our host family is the pastor of a church in Asahikawa. We will serve and be attending his church. Dan plans to also teach English and work any side jobs he can. God has given us both a heart to evangelize the Japanese people and bring salvation to many around us. In Japan, the gospel is accessible but most do not know this. They do not know the name of Jesus and that He died for them. Most are stuck in false religious acts trying to pay their way, cleanse their sins and be accepted into the after-life for being a good person. We want to help bring Kingdom culture to those around us and shed light with the hope and love of Christ.

Be encouraged that YOU can do whatever God has for you. Do not allow excuses or time to hold you back from His voice and destiny. We only have this time on earth to reach lost souls and bring His hope to others.

Leave-in-Conditioner & Oil Pulling

I have gotten into a mode of 'DIY' with all natural products lately. I'm not too informed of why certain chemicals are bad within daily products but I sure do like making my own and knowing what is in it!

I started using this leave in conditioner and I thoroughly enjoy it! It helps detangle and smells nice.

Recipe:
3/4 c hot water
2-3 tbsp coconut oil
*Combine in spray bottle and shake
-Spray on damp hair and ta-da!
((Can add more oil after trying it first if desired)).

 

 

Oil pulling is a new favorite of mine! I have done some research on it and love doing it! Oil pulling is basically taking 2tsp of coconut oil in your mouth and once melted, swishing it around for 10+minutes... once done, spitting it into a trash can. (Because it will solidify in your pipes if you spit it in the sink).

 

Oil pulling brings all the oils together and cleans your teeth and mouth. It has some great benefits such as: whitens teeth (have definitely seen my husbands teeth getting whiter!-he uses it daily), cleans thoroughly, helps your gums, helps strengthen teeth, etc.

 

I mainly use it 3-5x a week in addition to my regular cleaning routine. However, my husband uses it daily. I have found AMAZING information on doing this and highly highly recommend it! 

'No Poo' Shampoo Trial

I have recently started to try more natural products. I find it cost effective and healthy!

 

After research about different types of 'no poo' methods, I have found this one to most likely be a better pick for my hair. These main ingredients were recommended by a friend and I also mixed it up a little from a great blog I found.

 

Recipe:

1 can coconut milk (1.5+cup)

1 3/4 cup aloe vera gel (pure-got mine from whole foods)

Splash of apple cider vinegar

Few drops of Lavender (young living essential oil)

***

Pour all ingredients in a bowl & mix with a whisk.

Pour the mixture into ice cube trays.

Freeze.

You can take one out at a time and keep the cube in the fridge after each use. (Probably one a week).

It will not get 'sudsy.'

Use every 3+ days.

 

I will most likely rinse with ACV & water after each use.

 

 

 

 

Other methods...

The common one many use is baking soda with water as the shampoo and apple cider vinegar (ACV) as the conditioner. Our hair is the pH of around a 4. Baking soda is around a 9 which unbalances our hair and can be unhealthy for it. ACV is around a 4 so it is okay. (Kind of confusing but I would rather something non-controversial).

 

 

Now Baking Soda is not bad every once in awhile but can strip your hair too much. (It does work good in cleaning your hair from product build up).

If you do choose to use the BS & ACV method, the remedy is:

1tbsp BS & 1c water - in regular or squirt bottle

2tbsp (or more) ACV & 1c water - in regular or squirt bottle

**ACV smells funny but once your hair is rinsed and dried, it will not smell anymore.

Meant to be used once every 3+ days.

Will not get 'sudsy.'

 

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I am excited to try it out and see how well it works for my hair!

 



Beginning Essential Oils

I recently learned a lot about Essential Oils, their uses and their benefits. I am just beginning to use them so I have started out with only two. I truly love them! They are all natural which excites me the most.

I have chosen to go with Young Living Essential Oils from the research and knowledge I have found. ((Also because my friend Jordin talked about them so highly)). I have seen that it is the purest in how it is made.

Lavender:
I began using Lavender on a daily basis. I apply it to my 4 month old sons feet and back every night before bed. I have seen that the smell soothes him and helps him to fall asleep easier (not longer). I may also use it here and there on his feet throughout the day if he begins getting very fussy or inconsolable.

While taking something out of the oven, my middle finger lightly touched the scorching hot rack! Of course it immediately started to form a blister. It seemed to only feel good if I kept it on ice or cold water. Before bed I put Lavender on it and it felt much better and it seemed to heal quicker. I didn't have any problems with it after that.

My husband has had an infected cuticle (we believe) and we have used it on the area. It seems to be healing better.

My husband and I have used it on the bottom of our feet and behind our ears before bed and have found to sleep more soundly (before the baby wakes up that is!).

I have used it as a perfume and to help with dry hair within my "no poo" shampoo.

I put 3 drops in my hot bath one night and it was divine!

Thieves:
I originally bought Thieves to help with my baby sons teething. Thieves is amazing for oral care! It also works as a numbing agent.
I have used Thieves (diluted with coconut oil) and put it on my sons gums.

My husband has a constant 'short' cough daily and he began putting a drop under his tongue. (Still seeing if it comes with good results).

While doing 'oil pulling' with coconut oil, putting a drop of Thieves helps.

My husband also tends to get a lot of canker sores in his mouth. Putting one drop on it helps numb the area and act as a healing agent.

Thieves is also great as an immune helper. I can put it on my child's feet (or mine) to help our immune systems. I have read from another mothers blog that if her children begin showing symptoms of sickness (sneezing, coughing) she will put it on their feet every day until the symptoms have gone away. She saw great results so I am hoping for the same thing!

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I can't wait to try more and would like to get a diffuser in the future! Some of them can be expensive but they last quite awhile. Most bottles are 15ML which is 300 drops.

I highly recommend them so try them out for yourself!

QUIZ: What kind of 'Christian' are You?

We love to take all types of quizzes... so give this one a shot.

WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN ARE YOU?
(5 TYPES OF CHRISTIANITY).

#1 - CULTURAL Christianity

• Description: Mixture (mix info together), psuedo, social pressure.
• Your Approach to Jesus: "I follow Him if... He AGREES with me."
• Your Approach to The Word (Truth): "Truth is... what I BELIEVE."
• Your Approach to Scripture: It is "RELATIVE."
• To you, Jesus is: NEGOTIABLE.
• Examples: Facebook is your main influence. Quoted, 'If Celebrities have Bentley's and fancy cars, we should too." ((Wrong motives...)) Culture influences your perception of God.

#2 - CONSUMER Christianity

• Description: Cheap, appealing, enjoyable, marketable.
• Your Approach to Jesus: "I follow Him if... He BLESSES me." 
• Your Approach to The Word (Truth): "Truth is... what I RECEIVE." 
• Your Approach to Scripture: It is "PERSONAL."
• To you, Jesus is: ENJOYABLE.
• Examples: It is what you can get out of it. How can Jesus make 'you' feel good? A girl said, "I gotta get my worship fixed." She went to worship then left without listening to the Word or being engaged... she went simply for herself.

#3 - CONVENIENT Christianity

• Description: Easy, short-term, transient, excuse oriented. 
• Your Approach to Jesus: "I follow Him if... He APPEASES me."
• Your Approach to The Word (Truth): "Truth is... what I ACHIEVE."
• Your Approach to Scripture: It is "DIFFICULT."
• To you, Jesus is: OPTIONAL.
• Examples: You want Jesus to fix your problems ASAP and 'need what you need,' 'want what you want.' You will give you're all to Him if you feel He is giving what you want in a timely manner. 

#4 - CRISIS Christianity

• Description: Isolated, immature, victim, poor decisions. 
• Your Approach to Jesus: "I follow Him if... He HELPS me." 
• Your Approach to The Word (Truth): "Truth is... what I am RELIEVED of." 
• Your Approach to Scripture: It is "HIDDEN."
• To you, Jesus is: AVAILABLE.
• Examples: You come to God only when you desperately need something. When you experience hardship, then you run to the Father. You find Jesus always there and can escape from whatever you are going through. You tend to not follow Him for Him.

#5 - KINGDOM Christianity

• Description: Sonship-covenant, submission, obedience. // Assignment- training, mission. 
• Your Approach to Jesus: "I follow Him... because He is LORD." 
• Your Approach to The Word (Truth): "Truth is... His Word."
• Your Approach to Scripture: It is "TRUTH."
• To you, Jesus is: LORD
• Examples: You love God for God. You follow Him fully. You strive to always do what He wants and practice the disciplines necessary. You do not twist the Words of the Bible to bring your own truth. You believe and do what He says. 

What kind of Christian are YOU?

**Is your worldview shaping your Christianity or is your Christianity shaping your worldview? 

--Notes from: Pastor "Jayde Duncan."