Summer Travels

Let's see if I can still pull one of these blog posts together... forgive me if this one is boring, full of grammatical errors, or lacking bloggish wit... I'm out of practice.

It has been a busy and exciting summer for us so far... living in our new home (we'll leave that for another post)... and having sluggish internet out here in the boonies of Walk In Water lake. Hence the lack of blog posting, though I have several posts on a to-do list as soon as I have both speedy wifi and time at my disposal. I'm thinking of making a weekly date with my mac in town so I can continue to enjoy my family blog. We'll see.

Mom and I are just home from a spontaneous, but worthwhile trip to the mountains of North Carolina. I'm proud of both of us for overcoming so many obstacles that we could have easily allowed to forbid our trip. It was spectacular and I can't wait to go back! Even though there are tons of other fun summer pics, the ones from this trip made the cut for tonight!

We rented a car and drove, along with Grace Louise and Triston, to Madison, Georgia on Monday. We enjoyed the antebellum homes and hilly drive along 441. After staying at a shotty hotel Monday night (all part of making memories, right?!), we conquered the last leg of the trip on Tuesday (minus a few wrong turns) and arrived in Highlands at noon. We stayed with family friends at their mountain home- The Cherry House, a lovely and comfortable cottage decorated with Mebbie's antique charm. We could not have had more hospitable hosts, and we are grateful for the time they spent with us!

I was eager to help Mebbie design one of her famous vintage jeweled picture frames. After watching her work the first couple of days, I starting picking through her treasures and designed my very own silver and turquoise frame. I wish I had a picture of the finished product! Here it is in progress. By far the most fun I have ever had crafting!

"Hi Mountains!" Grace Louise loved talking about the mountains and was quick to point them out as she saw them. This was our first stop at the Tallulah Gorge overlook.

Our first hike in Highlands was Sunset Rock. A perfect place to hike in the evenings to watch the sunset. I'll be doing that on the next trip! Triston pushed Grace Louise in the Bob stroller on most of our hikes, although Grace Louise actually walked a few! We took some pictures of the Bob in action, hoping to make the all-terrain page of their website ;-) We really put this off-road stroller to the test on this trip!

I think this was my favorite overlook. A secret path off of one of the hikes. Perfect for a date.

Dry Falls. One of the many waterfalls we visited while in North Carolina. Is it possible to get sick of waterfalls? I can't seem to get enough. As a flat lander, I am in awe of the mountain rivers and streams. I imagine that must be how visitors feel about our beautiful beaches!

Of course, Grace Louise wanted to swim... no matter how cold the water! This was a great little swimming hole we visited off the side of a road. Mom and I played "pass the baby" to get Grace Louise from one granite boulder to another... until alas, a place for her to safely splash in the cold mountain water!
How cool is this God-made water slide?! Sliding rock is a must for anyone visiting the area. Hidden down a trail off of a mountain road, this stream and waterfall/slide offer both fun and spectacular postcard-like views of the forest and stream ecosystems. I tried to take as many mental pictures as physical ones, as this was a loveliness I didn't want to forget. God is amazing, and His creation shouts His praises!

Our last evening hike of the trip. The Botanical Gardens in Highlands.
We ended up ditching the Botanical Garden trails at the end and jumping on this intermediate trail, which we had to walk... all of us, including Grace Louise! This was the most challenging and dangerous hike, but offered the best nature experience, including the peaceful sound of a babbling brook. So nice!

Thanking God for this opportunity to travel and explore, for keeping us safe, and for building relationships and fond memories.

Just one gal sharing her notes...

See, when I don't have to spend my evening grading papers for the online courses I teach, I can watch The Voice and blog about completely random things, like this... HOME REMEDIES! This makes me very happy!

I love home remedies and have always felt that they actually work better than pharmaceuticals. They are typically cheap, easier to get your hands on (many can be found in your pantry), and rarely have negative side effects!

My love affair with tricks of the trade started with apple cider vinegar (ACV). For as long as I can remember, my grandmother preached the glories of this miracle drink as a remedy for everything from a stomach ache to stinky feet. We rolled our eyes and incessantly cracked ACV jokes behind her back. Need money to pay your bills? Having relationship problems? Drink apple cider vinegar!

In a desperate attempt to kick a cold, a couple of years ago I put the age old remedy to the test. My only disappointment? That I hadn't tried it sooner!

So, sip ACV warm with some water (1-2 tsp in a small glass of H2O) and lots of honey, and lemon if you have it, to ease the inflammation of a sore throat, to prevent bacteria infection of the tonsils, or to thin out mucous. For best results start sipping at the first sign of illness (tickly throat, post nasal drip, etc). For even better results have a glass once a week just for the heck of it... plus its great for your gut! I even use it diluted with water as a toner for my face! Works, well... beautifully!

ACV is amazing... a great blessing God has given us for natural good health. Pick up some high quality ACV from a health food store... the kind that still has the "mother" floating on top. Mmmm. Good stuff.

A few other remedies that I've had personal success with...

Garlic- a natural antibiotic and antifungal. Smells great too!- although your spouse may not agree. Have a cold that has turned sinus, tonsil, or respiratory infection? Chop up a few fresh cloves and swallow whole like a pill (or chew it if you can take it like a man). Garlic oil for an ear infection can be made my warming a clove in olive oil... or just place a half garlic clove just on the outside of the ear and hold in place with a cotton ball. Garlic is also the best treatment for a yeast infection! Forget the messy and expensive creams! Garlic is amazing!

Tea Tree Oil- This is hands-down the best essential oil to have in your medicine cabinet. The Apple Cider Vinegar of essential oils, if you will. This volatile oil is easily absorbed into the blood stream and lymph system when applied in a carrier oil (such as olive oil) in the neck and chest area. I've also used tea tree on Grace Louise's feet and chest during a cold. It also works well at treating a yeast diaper rash (again, mixed with a carrier oil and applied). Even one drop on a diaper can keep yeast at bay.

Cayenne Pepper (capsicum)- Capsicum works inside the body, as well as topically. Add to warm salt water and gargle for almost immediate relief for a sore throat. Ironically, it reduces inflammation.

Neti pot- There's a current joke on the Joy FM radio station about the neti pot. Apparently J.R. thinks that it was created as a practical joke to see if people would deliberately drown themselves. I'm a fan (both of the Joy FM and of the neti pot) and have had great success with this remedy for years. I use it at the first sign of a cold (again, post nasal drip and a tickly throat get me going every time). Who knew drowning yourself on a small scale could promote good health?!

Lymph massage- My most recent area of interest. I'm not sick often, but boy, this last cold threw me for a loop! I started feeling bad just days before my yoga certification training weekend. I rested Thursday and Friday, followed my remedies, and prayed for supernatural strength to make it through my class in Ft. Meyers. I had a great weekend (which reminds me, I should write about that experience...), but noticed the sore throat coming back Saturday night and then even more so Sunday evening. My glands were swollen severely and tender to the touch. I did some reading and started massaging with a tea tree oil blend Sunday night. I gave myself a mini anatomy lesson and then ensued an even longer lymph massage the next day. By Tuesday morning my glands were neither enlarged nor tender. This works, folks!

It is always my hope that sickness doesn't enter this home, but when it does, I've got a proven effective repertoire of remedies. Please share if you have any more to add!

Love Letters

Every major age milestone since Grace Louise was born, I've written her a little letter highlighting all the things she's doing and just sharing my heart at the moment. I have a letter that my mom wrote for me while she was pregnant, which I absolutely treasure! It is just so precious to have a glimpse into the heart of a mother, especially when its your own! Passionate Homemaking just wrote a blog entry about the art of letter-writing today (which I didn't even see until after I wrote this... how cool!)

An excerpt from GL's 18 month letter...

A few truly precious things you do that make my heart melt...

• say “sit mommy” when you want to nurse

• say “wapoo” (I love you!) and “night night skeeter bite!”

• mimick mommy’s yoga poses

• sit in front of your bookshelf on the floor and read book after book by yourself

• sit on the big girl potty, get your own toilet paper, and wipe yourself (but you’re not potty trained yet!)

• carry a purse and put small books and toys in it

• carry your baby dolls everywhere

• play peek a boo with yourself and other random objects, saying “where’d go?”

• say really sweet southern things like “bye y’all”, “bye now”, and “oh my!”

• cackle and shriek when you laugh

Mommy and daddy must continue to ask the Lord to guide our footsteps in parenting, careful not to put ourselves on auto-pilot or forget the purpose of what we are doing... training you to know and the love the Lord and to desire to give Him glory with your life. I want you to be smart. I want you to be talented. But most of all, I want you to desire after Jesus with your whole heart. I am so able to mess this up. I have a good chance of teaching you things I shouldn’t or not teaching you things I should. Yet, God’s grace is sufficient even for this. You are His. And this is all for His glory.

18months- Memorial Day Weekend

The Best Photo Series Ever

Need I say more?

Lowry Park

This child has been given no shortage of opportunities to see animals in her life. We took a trip to Lowry Park on Friday, making her fourth zoo trip! She was barely 8 months old the last time we took her, and wow what a difference one year makes at this age! So interested in the animals, she said their names, made noises, and got oober excited about all kinds of sights at the park, including the other children! She loved the animals, but I think the water attractions and train ride took the cake!

The Best Mother's Day!

Last Sunday was Mother's Day and I still haven't quite got over how spectacular that day was for me. Last year Grace Louise was around 6 months old on Mother's Day, so this ain't my first rodeo... My first Mother's Day wasn't all that memorable, though (apparently, because I can't remember much about it... except that I got two really special cards from my amazing in-laws... or was that for my birthday... see.)

This Mother's Day, on the other hand, is one I will never forget. I took a break from all of my obligations, responsibilities, and traditions, and on a whim, went with my mom and baby girl to the beach! We kept it simple (though the looks of my packed-like-sardines car wouldn't suggest so). Driving over to Vero, we only stayed for a couple hours, the most comfortable part of the day. Clear skies and BIG waves. We ate, we played, we read, we walked. No agenda. No distractions. Just enjoying each moment and each other. I loved every second :-)

By the way... You should hear this little girl say "seashells". And the shrieks of delight when the waves come crashing in. It will melt your heart...

(I think she's shrieking here.)

18 months and Missed Adventures

So, my baby girl just turned 18 months old... 6 more months and we start counting her age in years! Its funny how we start out meticulously counting those weeks, careful not to make our babies any older than they truly are- an effort to hold on to a toddlerhood we know will disappear so quickly. We reluctantly count age in months... and then years.

I've read at 18th months toddlers experience "vocabulary explosion". Grace Louise is out to confirm the theory, chattering away with more words than I can count. Her voice is sweet and accent southern. We have conversations, even if no one else knows what she's saying :-) She's loving to be outside... always. Swinging, herding the chicks in the yard, pushing her cozy coupe, stroller, or grocery cart, and using her growing imagination for play!

We've had so many adventures in the past month, I just haven't been able to keep up with blogging. This is my last-ditch effort to capture some of the highlight moments... beginning with this post and continuing in a series of Missed Adventures... Enjoy!

Such a sweet moment. Grace Louise's first time playing with mommy's hair. I look forward to braids and other beautiful styles!

What? You don't read the paper on the pot?

Gardenias at BeBe and Pops' house. She picks flowers every Tuesday, and they smell so sweet!

Hanging out in our future backyard. Move in date is June 1st! Exciting!

A prayer request for our family- please pray for a buyer for our current home and trusting hearts to follow God's direction in all things concerning this move.

A spring break visit from Aunt Linz. Can't wait to see her again this summer!

No, Grace Louise doesn't have a baby brother... this is the adorable end result of my first doula client! It was a great learning experience for me, and I'm looking forward to my next delivery in June. Jimmy and I will be heading down to Ft. Myers next weekend for my Prenatal Yoga certification training. Lots of cool things happening with the Doulas of Lake Wales!

Missed Adventure- LONG LOST FRIENDS

I was starting to wonder if this was ever going to happen, but FINALLY... my good friend Kristy and I got our rugrats together for a day of fun. Beckett and Evie entertained Grace Louise with a (poor) toad, among other things, and I got some sweet baby lovin' from little Elin.

I am so thankful for this lasting friendship! Even if Kristy and I only catch up once a year, it is so easy to pick up where we left off.

The (poor) toad.

Grace Louise was amused with the mussels in the lake!

Missed Adventure- TURKEYS!!!

Not one, but two! One of the most incredible experiences I have ever shared with my hubby, was this turkey hunt where we both took gobblers in back to back shots. Everything about the hunt was perfect, from setting up our little palmetto blind, hearing the birds gobble in the tree as we were setting up, watching them come off the roost at daylight, and then calling them over to the decoys so we could make a shot. A big thanks to my amazing father in law who made this great memory possible!

Missed Adventure- EASTER!!!

Last year Grace Louise could sit in this Easter basket and this year, here she is toting it around, investigating the treasures inside, and hunting for eggs. It's amazing how quickly they grow and change in these early years! And again, we are enjoying creating our own traditions for the holidays, always trying to point Grace Louise to the glory of our Savior!

• Resurrection Eggs- really cute way to tell the Easter story, each egg containing a symbol of some part of the story. Grace Louise played with ones that I borrowed from a friend the week before Easter, and now has her very own dozen to enjoy!
• VeggieTales- Twas the Night Before Easter DVD- I played this for Grace Louise during breakfast on Easter morning, but she doesn't have the attention span for shows or movies yet. It's the thought that counts, though, right?
• Easter Surprise- look/flap board book. The best one I could find for her age at the Christian bookstore. She LOVES this book and says "knock knock" on all the flap doors. Very cute.
• A stuffed bunny and duck that were given to her last Easter- one of the joys of the early years- they don't remember what you gave them last year and they are still just as excited to get it again!
• Organic Surf Sweet Jelly Beans- the closest this child will get to candy for a while! They're actually delicioso, made with apple juice concentrate!

Enjoying her jelly beans!

With Grandaddy at church on Easter morning.

Loving on cousin Hayden.

Wise/DuBose Grandbabies

Instructions for the egg hunt.

This brought back lots of memories for me, hunting eggs with cousins on Easter. So much fun!

I get by with a little help from my friend.

Hope your Easter was just as blessed as ours and that you have true joy that comes from trusting in our resurrected Lord!