Got Thyme? You Need It!

“Happy Earth Day” (April 22) 

Think "green" when you clean—make a natural cleaning solution with dōTERRA Thyme essential oil.

Homemade Eco-friendly Cleaner with Thyme:
1. Fill a spray bottle with two cups of water.
2. Add 25 drops dōTERRA Thyme essential oil.
3. Add 2 tsp. Castile (natural soap).
4. Use on hard-to-clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

Did you know that researchers at the Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands in Greece tested essential oils against drug-resistant staph (MRSA, aka a super-bug)? Thyme essential oil killed almost all of the bacterium within an hour! (Read the article here.)

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris CT thymol), familiar to most as a common seasoning for cooking, produces an essential oil that has valuable cleansing and clarifying properties. It is also notable for its broad-spectrum activity for winter health. Thyme is considered by many herbalists to be a very nearly perfect herb. It ranks as one of the finest herbs of French cuisine. The general rule of using herbs in cooking is - when in doubt use thyme! dōTERRA’s CPTG Thyme Essential Oil comes from thyme plants grown and harvested in Germany.

How to Use dōTERRA Thyme Essential Oil:
1. Apply topically; dilute thyme with dōTERRA’s fractionated coconut oil before applying, as it may cause skin sensitivity.
2. Diffuse; add 1-2 drops to diffuser. Can be blended with other oils as an air purifier (Lemon or Citrus Bliss is ideal).
3. Add as an ingredient to homemade cleaners for deep cleaning in the home or office.
4. Use internally; dilute and add to a gelatin capsule. Can also be added to foods as a seasoning. (Note: Use a toothpick to swirl in the flavor, not a full drop, as it is very concentrated.)
NOTE: Avoid eye contact when using any essential oils. 

Double the Trouble, Twice the Fun!

Our Twin Surprise

Double the trouble, twice the fun,

Our life with twins had just begun.

Double the hands, twice the feet,

It’s a wonder we ever got any sleep.

Twice the diapers, giggles, and curls,

Double the joy—with two baby girls!

~ By Linda Ottley

Thirty-one years ago on April 21, 1979, we had the surprise of our lives. Twins! Suddenly we went from having two children, to being parents of four children, when two baby girls entered our world all at once! Prior to their birth I’d had a dream that I was on the delivery table and as my baby arrived someone said, “There are two babies.”

As it turned out, my dream was more like a revelation! Following the first birth the doctor said, “The head is little . . . there must be another one!” Amazingly enough, without prior confirmation or benefit of ultrasound, both babies were healthy, weighing in at over seven pounds each! Dale called his mom and teasingly announced we had a 14 lb. 7 oz. baby (their combined birth weight of 7 lb. 3 oz. and 7 lb. 4 oz.).

Having twins back in 1979 was still unusual and we caused quite a commotion in the hospital—especially when the only anesthesiologist was so busy with us that others delivered cold turkey! We caused a ripple of excitement in our families as well. My sister, Judy, who had four little children under six-years-old at the time, called my hospital room to congratulate me saying, “Linda, you had twins . . . I’m so sorry!”

I replied, “Oh, I’m so excited! I’ve always wanted twins!”

“Oh—good then,” she said. “I’m glad it was you. Because if it was me, I’d have slit my wrists!” It still makes me smile remembering.

We decided to name our first born twin, “Rachel”—after my grandmother’s first name, and our second born twin, “Elizabeth”—after Grandma Rachel’s middle name. Two equally beautiful names for two beautiful babies! I remember dressing them to go home—with my husbands help—in matching pink outfits, booties, and blankets . . . lovingly purchased by my sister, Vicki, and my mom. We were laughing and giggling, struggling to dress two wiggling babies, who were screaming their heads off to be nursed! We took them home to their five year old brother, Cord, and their three year old sister, Aleesha—each getting their own baby in their room, no one having to share!

Having twins was a unique and wonderful experience. It changed our lives in numerous ways. We learned to be organized and to work together as a team, changing, burping, and feeding. During the night my sole purpose was to create enough milk to satisfy. I drank tons of water and Raspberry herb tea. Dale was the receiver, getting the “crier” from her crib, changing, burping, and tucking each bundle back in bed. When they began waking up at the same time we discovered the “twin nursing hold,” cradling one baby in each arm. Soon it became the preferred method—affording us more sleep by feeding two at once. I can’t say we were always coherent during our nightly routine, as sometimes in the morning the babies were in the wrong cribs. But everything that cried, ate—of this I am sure. Having twins was a spiritual awakening, realizing my value and God given worth in the kingdom of God, entrusted with two precious spirits at once.

Happy Birthday baby girls. You've added more “sugar and spice” to our lives!

Tuesday dōTERRA Tip!

Every woman with young children knows that flu and cold season turns us into “Doctor Mom” out of necessity! So here’s six essential dōTERRA oils that every Dr. Mom needs to have on hand. It’ll makes waking up in the middle of the night okay, because it won’t be happening for long. Be happy. Stay healthy!

1. On Guard: On Guard helps prevent the onset of illness. Rub 1-2 drops on your feet daily (or diffuse in the air) during flu and cold season to protect and increase the immune system response.

2. Breathe: Respiratory issues are a big concern during the colder months and are an ongoing concern for those with asthma. This wonderful oil blend can be rubbed directly on the chest to relieve breathing and coughs.


3. Lemon: Put 1-3 drops in water to keep the body cleansed, so the immune response can be at it’s best (even children respond well to this).



4. Basil or Oregano: Use these on your feet often when illness occurs. Try these first for any antibiotic needs. Basil is more gentle on the body and a better choice for young children. However, Oregano is a powerful oil for viruses and those nasty winter and springtime germs. Use a good carrier oil, like Fractured Coconut Oil or Olive Oil, when applying Oregano anywhere other than on the feet, as there can be a burning sensation on the skin. Note: For any intense reaction from any essential oil, rub in a carrier oil on top to dilute.


5. Digest-Zen: Stomachaches, nausea, and even heartburn or acid reflux can take its toll. Keep a bottle of Digest-Zen handy all the time. Let your kids rub Digest-Zen on their own tummies and put it in their water if needed—to keep the bowels moving and allow the body to focus on immune response.



6. Deep Blue: It's great to have Deep Blue since we, as parents, frequently encounter sore muscles and pain discomfort, due to everyday activities or chronic conditions. It is now available in an easy to apply roll on too.

Probiotic Suggestion: dōTERRA’s “PB Assist” is an effective probiotic guaranteed to provide a minimum of 1 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) of live bacteria per dose. It is safe for use by all members of your family, keeping good bacteria flourishing in the gut so the body can fight almost anything! Swallow this tiny pill or hide it in a bite of oatmeal or applesauce for small children.

“Remember, the oils don’t fight disease, the oils ‘assist the 
body’ to fight off disease. Use the oils to assist the 
body to do what it was meant to do!” ~ Dr. Hill 

Discover dōTERRA 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oils. Nature at it's finest, naturally safe. www.mydoterra.com/lindaoils

When I’m An Old Lady

Happy 88th Birthday Mom!

Mom’s Junior Prom Formal

“What is real?” asked the Rabbit, one day when they were lying side by side. “Does it mean hearing things that buzz inside you and a stick out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you’re made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time . . . really loves you, then you become real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or have to be carefully kept. Generally by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose at the joints. But these things don’t matter at all because once you are real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” ~ Excerpt taken from “The Velveteen Rabbit,” by Margery Williams

* * * * *

Today is my mother’s 88th birthday! She was born in the early years of the twentieth century, living through World War II and the Great Depression. She has buried two of her five children, something parents never expect to do, or should have to do, before they go. She has also been loved by her childhood friend and sweetheart, marrying when they were both at the tender age of 19—young and naive, eager to make their mark in the world and raise a family together. Her talents are numerous—blessing the lives of her children and various grandchildren. Over the years she has spent many late nights sewing new clothes, costumes, prom dresses, bridesmaid’s dresses, and wedding gowns. She has traveled some and seen some far away places, experienced moments of glory and fame, and been loved by her spouse and their posterity. And when all is said and done that is enough. In the famous iconic words of author Nicholas Sparks in “The Notebook,” “I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.”

My mother-in-law gave me this poem many years ago. She was always cheerful and lighthearted and had the ability to find humor in the challenges of an aging body. We miss her. So in celebration of my own mother, who now needs assistance and lives with my older sister, I thought I’d post this very funny poem about aging and living with your kids. Happy Birthday Mom!

“Mother—you may have difficulty seeing and perhaps you’re getting a little loose in the joints when you walk, but like the Velveteen Rabbit, you can never be ugly when you’re loved.”

When I'm An Old Lady

By Joanne Bailey Baxter

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,

And bring so much happiness just as they did.

I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.

Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited!

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids…

I'll write on the walls with reds, whites, and blues,

And bounce on the furniture—wearing my shoes.

I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.

I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout!

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...

When they're on the phone and just out of reach,

I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.

Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,

And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,

I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat.

I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,

And when they get angry—I'll run—if I'm able!

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...

I'll sit close to the TV—through the channels I'll click.

I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.

I'll take off my socks and throw one away,

And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,

I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.

My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,

And say with a groan, “She's so sweet when she's sleeping!”

When I'm an old lady and live with my kids!

An Oldie But a Goodie!

“Dedicated to the One I Love”

(1967 hit pop song by ‘The Mamas and the Papas’)

Now 

Then


Happy 60th Birthday Dale!

12 Reasons Why . . . 
Being an Oldie is a Goodie:


1. Your failing eyesight saves you the anguish of watching your body disintegrate. 


2. Your continuing hernia operations give you more in common with your peer group.

3. You’re a champ at history questions, since you were alive during most of it.

4. You don’t need to make a big effort to be interesting and stylish anymore. People expect you to be boring and frumpy.


5. Your failing memory allows you to convince yourself that you’re still handsome and super sexy.


6. You preserve family history by talking about the good old days when you were a kid.


7. You hear your favorite songs in the elevator and during medical office visits.


8. You are well informed as you listen incessantly to talk radio and regularly watch the Weather Channel.


9. There isn’t a generation gap between you and your grand-baby. You both take naps throughout the day.


10. 90% of the time that you spend in front of the computer is for real work.


11. Your former “get up and go” just “got up and went.” But you smile and you grin, when you think where it’s been!


12. You’ve read this entire list, desperately looking for one sign that doesn't apply to you and can't find one. But it doesn’t really matter anyway, because you won’t remember reading this by tomorrow!

The Starfish Theory

Legend of the Starfish

Adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)

A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy in the distance that appeared to be moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance joyfully to the day, and walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the young boy was not dancing at all. Instead he was reaching on to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. It soon became apparent that there were many starfish along the shoreline that had been washed up by the tide, that would surely die before the evening tide returned. So the boy was walking slowly along the shore, occasionally reaching down to the sandy beach, and tossing a beached starfish back into the ocean.

As the businessman got closer to the boy he called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, “I’m throwing starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.”

“You have a good heart young man,” the businessman replied, “but do you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!”

The boy looked up at that man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, “I made a difference to that one.”

* * * * *

I have always been enamored by the unique simplicity of the Starfish, one of the most strikingly beautiful creatures of God’s underwater creations. Their beauty is magnified only by their interesting characteristics of five or more arms, and an often spiky appearance used for protection. Starfish are also known as “sea stars” and are not really fish at all, despite the name that has been given to them. These echinoderms are found in abundance in various patterns of bright colors and stripes, in deep blue seas as well as shallow waters.

In the story of “The Star Thrower” the sea stars that have been washed up on the beach are struggling to stay alive until the tide can carry them back home. Like the starfish, we are all His children, each one unique and loved like the other. We come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, each with varied personalities and viewpoints. We too are struggling, each with our own life challenges, learning and growing, trying to make it back to our Heavenly home.

In my extended family, we are each struggling on the sandy beach of life, trying to love one another, trying to make a difference, and trying to face our trials with dignity, while hoping to make it safely back home to the loving arms of our Father in Heaven. I have always been “Switzerland” in my family of sea stars, usually preferring to remain neutral, avoiding direct confrontation. The other sea stars are used to my family role, where problems and complaints can be aired without fear of retaliation. Switzerland sea star had become proficient in allowing other’s opinions to wash over her protected surface, nodding as if in agreement, even when viewpoints are not shared.

Recently however, I had an experience with extended family that become “messy,” to say the least.  For one of the first times in my life, I drew a line in the sand, standing up for what I believed was morally ethical, voicing my true opinion instead of being "Switzerland Sea Star," avoiding the expected house of hostility that would surely follow if I voiced my truth.  I had assumed we were all part of a team, working for the common good, each with a unique role in the care of our aging parents. Suddenly, without warning, I was hit with the reality that I had taken my role as financial adviser more seriously than was expected. It was made painfully clear to me by the rejection I experienced by one particular sea star, that I was only a volunteer "bill payer," and anything more was not appreciated or desired. Anything more was not my responsibility.

Nonetheless, finding my voice of differing opinion has changed the core dynamics of my extended family and I have discovered that some of the other sea stars “needed” my silence in order to believe their opinions were shared by the majority, therefore retaining their desired power. Finding my voice was oddly “freeing” after years of unsaid opinions came rolling in with the afternoon tide. Unfortunately, like the starfish, my older sibling’s protective spiky shell came out in self defense and I felt her immediate rejection of my opinion as she struggled to justify her actions. I felt clouded with feelings of insignificance and low self worth.

I searched my heart in prayer, wondering if my Father in Heaven was pleased with my stand of truth. My answer came in the form of a blessing given by a faithful home teacher, fulfilling his priesthood duty. He was not aware of anything going on in my life, yet I was not prepared for the remarkable words that came from his mouth. I KNEW they were not his words.  I can't even adequately express what they meant to me or the impression they made on my soul, as this treasured friend became God’s instrument, picking my struggling sea star from off the beach of sand, and gently throwing me back into the ocean where God’s gentle grace blessed me with loving words of courage, strength, and confidence. My joy was unspeakable! Unexpectedly I was told that my voice should never be silent again from that day on, as I learned and grew as His child of God.

Family comes to us from different places, and just as the star fish on the shore were struggling to get back in the sea, we are His children striving to feel His love and to know that we are each individually important to Him. So he sends another’s hands, like the small boy on the beach, to guide us back into His loving arms when we lose our way.

The story of “The Star Thrower” is a classic story from 1979, written by Loren Eiseley, both a scientist and a poet, and hailed as a modern day Henry David Thoreau. To this day his writing is the subject of much discussion and inspiration. The Star Thrower is a powerful story of the potential within each one of us to make a difference in the lives of others. It is a gentle reminder that we should be here for each other, to give service, even in small ways, whenever we can.

In such turbulent times as these, when we may often feel alone and small, unable to make any lasting changes in our lives, we may find ourselves asking, “What can I do that will make a difference? What can one person like me do?”

In reality we don't have to be rich, talented or even particularly intelligent to make a difference in the life of another. We just need to remember that we are all here for a purpose, and that making small changes in the world, eventually adds up to something bigger in the life of another.

No matter how small your action might be, it makes a difference to someone! One person can change the reality of another. When we become throwers of the stars, we too, have the power to change the world.

Tuesday Tip: Discover dōTERRA!

Over the years, like others with similar chronic health issues and few medical solutions, I have tried an abundance of pills, potions, and promising protocols on my journey towards the often mystifying highway of health. In any Lyme disease support group in the country you can find a multitude of conflicting protocols and opinions for this interesting condition that continues to be a political controversy of differing attitudes and ideas.

Yet, in spite of the confusion, there are generous, caring people who continuously enter my life, sharing their knowledge and giving enlightenment. For these adventurous souls I am grateful daily. They have enriched my life and taken part in showing me who I am.

The difficulty with the mass of symptoms that accompany Lyme disease is in finding solutions that the body will embrace. Solutions to the lack of nutrient giving vitamin and minerals that refuse to be absorbed. Solutions building the immune system into a powerful warrior willing to fight back.

Discover dōTERRA Essential Oils! Essential Oils . . . two little words I heard in passing so many years ago. But there was much to learn and miles to grow before I would come to really know and understand. I was searching for a magical potion, a miracle pill, impatient to continue the life I’d led. However, there are lessons to be learned, some for ourselves, and some for those who touch our lives. But when we become open to new ideas and possibilities, the knowledge comes pouring down faster than we can comprehend.

I’ve discovered “all are not equal” in the world of essential oils. All are not made with integrity. All are not 100% certified pure, therapeutic grade essential healing oils, able to absorb into the bloodstream within 50 seconds. Able to change the cells and gently help the body restore itself to it’s former healthy state without the devastating side affects so common in our pharmaceutical dependent world.

dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize dōTERRA's superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade essential oils.

So in recognition of “National Sleep Awareness Month” here’s my “Tuesday Tip!”

Use dōTERRA’s “Lavender” essential oil to increase the quality of your sleep! A few drops of Lavender in the palms of your hands and cupped over the nose can quickly and easily eliminate stress and anxiety. When the body reaches the deepest stages of sleep your immune system runs its renewal cycle. If you are not able to reach the deepest stages of sleep, your immune system will be weak.

Try These Simple Tips:
1. Add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to a spray bottle, mix with water, and spritz on your pillows and bed linen.

2. Massage a few drops of Lavender essential oil into the bottom of your feet before going to bed. 

3. Add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to your kids’ bath water to help them relax and unwind before going to bed.

4. Place a diffuser filled with 6-10 drops of Lavender essential oil in your bedroom and diffuse 30 minutes before retiring for the evening.


Note: Lavender can also be applied directly to cuts, abrasions, and burns for a disinfecting and healing action.


Stress is a major contributor to illness and disease. dōTERRA’s “Serenity” is also a calming blend designed to accentuate it’s soothing properties, creating a sense of well being and improved health through the natural reduction of stress and its related symptoms. For those who don't enjoy the floral scents of Lavender or Serenity, put 2 drops of Roman Chamomile, Bergamont, and Frankincense on the feet to relax and combat the effects of stress on the body. Find out more here.