Shoshanna's Non-Toxic Body Lotion

Here is a video of Shoshanna's non-toxic body lotion.  I made it and loved it!  It is slightly greasy but soaks into the skin within several minutes.  It is made from all natural ingredients that are fairly easy to find.  I am going to type out all the directions so I don't have to go to the video every time I make it.  I need this post for my reference!

The first thing you do is make an herbal infused oil.  I ordered calendula flowers and rose pedals from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They are a bit expensive up front but there is enough to make many jars of lotion.

Fill a glass jar half full of each herb.  Then pour coconut oil {I use this coconut oil because it has no smell to it.} that you have slowly melted in a pan into the jar of herbs almost to the top of the jar, leaving about two inches at the top.  Secure the lid on the jar.

Put this jar with herbs into a large pan with a towel on the bottom, folded over four times, so the jar won't break.  Pour water into the pan so it comes up to almost the top of the jar, about the same place the oil comes up to.   Cover the pan with a lid, bring water to boil, turn to low and cook for one to two hours.

Get a cheesecloth and spread it over the top of another pan.  Pour the oil infused herbs into the cheesecloth straining out the herbs.  Throw the used herbs away.  Into the pan with the infused oil add two tablespoons of beeswax and allow the beeswax to melt.

Pour this mixture into a flat glass baking dish.  Allow it to completely cool.  {I put mine in the refrigerator to hurry the process.} Scrape it out with a knife or spatula and put into a blender.  She uses a Bullet.  I use my Vitamix.  Pour aloe vera juice {You can get a large plastic tub of it at Walmart for real cheap.} into the blender until it covers the coconut oil.  Add one teaspoon vitamin E oil, and some essential oils if you would like.

Now blend it until it is very creamy.  Then pour it into glass jars with a lid or whatever else you have.  It has a wonderful creamy texture.  It is fairly inexpensive to make and is made of all natural ingredients.  Enjoy!

Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, 

a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

Proverbs 27:9

Undeserving San Diego Chargers

We are all undeserving like the San Diego Chargers.  Before last Sunday's games, the Chargers had less than a 2% chance of making the playoffs.  They were handed the playoffs on a silver platter by the Dolphins losing to the Jets,  the Ravens losing to the Bengals, and the Chiefs losing to the Chargers with a couple of very bad referees' calls.  They didn't earn a playoff spot.  They were given it.  The picture above proves it with more than six players lined up on one side of a critical missed field goal attempt.

We don't earn eternal life.  We were given it.  There is nothing we can do to earn eternal life.  God gave it freely and unearned to us by His Son Jesus Christ.  We can try all we want to earn it, but it is simply impossible by our own works.  We would never be good enough with all the mistakes we make in life. Thank God we can do nothing but to believe Him.

The Chargers worked very hard to make the playoffs.  They practiced for many months almost every single day.  The players worked hard individually to stay in shape but no matter how hard they practiced and how in shape they were, they were never going to make the playoffs if the Dolphins, Bengals, or the Chiefs had won, or two really bad calls didn't help them.

All other religions teach that you have to work hard to gain eternal life.  By being good and by doing good, they are told they will get to heaven.  We will never be good enough or do enough good deeds to get into heaven. But someone did in Jesus Christ, who took our punishment, paid our penalty, and made a way for all who believe to inherit eternal life.

Unlike the Chargers, who are only guaranteed one more game, we are guaranteed a life free from pain and sorrow,  an eternal life with those we love who are believers.  A life everlasting! We have one Superstar on our team who always wins in the end and He invites us to become a part of His family of God, through faith. 

Will you join the winning team so that when the Great Ref in the Sky evaluates your life all He will see is Jesus living in and through you? This is our hope, this is our salvation, that God grants us eternal life and victory for all who call upon the name of the Lord and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Making A Little Income

She was wondering if she should go out and find a full-time job to help with the family's income.  Her husband responded with the following words ~

 I didn’t want her to feel obligated to have to go out and work for someone else as a wage slave. I’ve told her repeatedly that only one of us should have to suffer indentured servitude in corporate hell {it might be a life sentence for me}, and that that’s my job as the husband and provider. There’s no reason both of us should have to suffer.

If she wants to work, I’m fine with that ~ but I would prefer that she started something of her own. She loves clothing and jewelry and has been a successful seller of it in the past and is also a great cook who has catered meals for family and friends before. Let her discover the entrepreneur within herself!

This is one wise husband.  Why women were ever convinced into leaving their homes, being told that lovingly serving their family was mundane, and having careers like men where they leave the home for hours every day is a good thing is beyond me. If a wife would like to contribute income to the family, it is best if she can find something to do from the home and have her life be centered around the home just as was the Proverbs 31 wife's job of making and selling linen garments and sashes.

This man enjoys having his wife home, taking care of the home and family.  It is an act of love and service to want to cook tasty and healthy meals for our families. So many women today don't like to cook.  It isn't a matter of whether you like it or not, it is imperative you learn to enjoy cooking and nourishing your precious family.  Sure, keeping the home clean and tidy isn't fun but it is part of the ministry the Lord has given us. Praise the Lord that you have a roof over your head.  If you are disorganized and messy, begin following flylady and teach yourself to be a good housekeeper. 

Don't let them fool you, there is joy to be found at home. If you listen to the people who don't know that, you'll be thinking that being at home, and the chores to be done there, are demeaning, demanding and disgusting. If you read magazines, they'll tell you all about how to do this and that, they'll give you lists of "the best 10 holidays ..." and tell you 20 different ways to serve a chicken leg, but they never write about the satisfaction of homemaking, or the joy to be found by making your home a safe and cozy haven for all who live there. That is my job. ;- ) {Rhonda Jean}

If you feel your husband needs some help adding income to the family, figure out what you enjoy and see if you can bring in some income with it from the home.  Maybe you have an entrepreneur within and can start a little home based business!

Here is a wonderful verse, young women, 
about the "career" the Lord has given you ~

I will therefore that the younger women marry, 
bear children, guide the house, 
give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
I Timothy 5:14

Our Simple New Year's Eve

We have lived in this home for 16 years.  Our refrigerator was two years old when we moved in.  It is old now.  The ice machine quit long time ago.  The drawers are very difficult to pull out.  However, the temperature is always perfect.  It has never given us trouble.  An 18 year old frig!  

When I was sleeping Monday night, all of a sudden I woke up and thought I would choke to death.  The smoke in my room was so thick I could hardly breath.  I ran down the stairs and yelled for Ken asking him what was happening.  He had put his heating pad in the microwave to warm up and the microwave never stopped warming it up so the heating pad caught on fire.  We had to open all the windows in my bedroom and it was freezing!  {Well, freezing for here...45 degrees.}  Our microwave is 16 years old!

So Ken and I journeyed to Home Depot today to look for a new refrigerator and microwave.  We use things until they break, most of the time.  I really don't want to do that with our frig since we could lose a lot of good food and we probably wouldn't get as good as a deal if we had to get it right away.  The salesman told us the life of a refrigerator today is about 10 to 12 years and a microwave is only 6 to 7 years. :(

We enjoy leading a life of not always needing the newest and the best.  We try to be content with what we have.  We do have a lot being blessed to live in America!  We try to live carefully and not be wasteful.  We bought our washer and dryer used since things made years ago last so much longer.

I have been reading Down To Earth  blog for a long time.  I love what she posted yesterday ~

I was talking to a young man the other day, his first child will be born later this year.  He is ready to settle down and start a family but where he sees difficulty, job uncertainty and not enough money, I see opportunity and independence.  When I was his age I thought that a baby must be born into a family using newly bought clothes and equipment.  I know now it makes no difference whether what you have is new or old, what matters is that baby is loved and the family it's born into is stable.  Stability, love and calmness will see every baby through.  All a baby really needs is to be fed, to be warm and secure and held in loving arms.

So this new year, keep your priorities straight.  Grow strong in the wisdom and the knowledge of the Lord.  Love your husband and children deeply.  Be content with what the good Lord has given you.  Be thankful and cheerful as you trust in the Lord and His provision.

Happy New Year!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding.  

In all your ways acknowledge Him 

and He shall direct your steps.

Proverbs 3:5,6