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Is Gratitude Your Attitude?

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

I wonder what swirled through your brain as you read that. No judgment. I have plenty of need to grow in gratitude myself. I’m not coming here to harp on why you aren’t more grateful, and neither am I here with 5 perfect steps that will get you into the gratitude aisle.

Wouldn’t it be awfully nice if we could find this aisle in Walmart? Chock full shelves with 2 and 3 gallon quantities. We’d probably want to buy gratitude for handing out to all the discontent people during the holiday season! Perhaps, though, this is a time we ought to focus on ourselves.

Feelings of gratitude definitely do not come naturally. It takes intentionality and a cultivating of gratitude in our hearts daily for it to become a way of life. I feel gratitude is more of a heart posture than it is to say ‘thank you’ a hundred times a day, though that is also a good thing. When our hearts are overwhelmed with the goodness of God, it will spill over into our everyday living. It will come out in our view of life in general, in our actions and speech. If we’re constantly critical and finding life’s negativaty outweighs the positive, it speaks of a distressed and discontent heart.

Yes, life is hard. I don’t discredit that at all! There is much sadness and grief surrounding us, and I do not mean that we don’t grieve. Or that we never feel there’s not much positive left in life, except perhaps, the positive in batteries.

God understands our hearts and sees our griefs. He knows the silent pain nobody else sees.  He knows the deep pain of losing someone precious to us. He sees all the griefs known and unknown. But if we let Him, He is able to heal with His never ending supply of grace. And even as we grieve, He heals, and our hearts can be given to gratitude amidst suffering.

We all make the choice whether we will give in to self pity or with God’s help, create a grateful heart.

We should definitely give thanks for spiritual blessings. God gives blessings abundant to those who love Him! But thanks for material blessings is important too. And do you ever give thanks for things that didn’t happen? Or thanks for the things we don’t deal with? Did you thank God that the glass didn’t shatter when your son swung it precariously while emptying the dishwasher on a hectic morning? Did you thank God that when hubby’s truck didn’t start again, it happened at the local shed shop instead of halfway through the midst of a big city? Are we giving thanks that our country is not at war? Are we giving thanks for the peaceful homes we have to raise our children? There’s oodles of could be calamities if we’ll only notice. And there’s thanks to be given for that!

Something I’ve often thanked God for, is that I’m not in the hospital. I have many memories of surgeries and scary times of being hospitalized and my heart goes out to those who struggle with health, because I’ve been there. Lately, I’m kinda there again….

Last Sunday, I had a rough night because of how I was feeling. Monday was worse yet and I ended up in the ER Monday evening. They kept me for about 14 hours. My baby was promptly monitored, and thank God! Was very active and doing great! The I.V. fluids rehydrated me and took care of the terrible heart palpitations I was having. But the dizziness and vomiting were worse. And then my ear. I was diagnosed with an inner ear infection (which doesn’t hurt) but because of the infection, it caused vertigo, which causes dizziness and nausea/vomiting. For a week now, I’ve been dealing with lightheadedness and this horrible feeling of being off balance in my head as soon as I move. My head feels like a concrete block dragging me down, making me feel woozy. And my ear won’t budge open no matter how many vertigo exercises and home remedies I’ve tried, besides the antibiotics. All I can do is sit or lay around and listen to my ear ringing. If you’ve had vertigo, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If you’ve never had it, it’s definitely something to put on your ‘didn’t happen‘ thankful list! It is misery! I would any day rather have a sore throat or cold than this. I thought vertigo would be an excellent way to punish criminals because it really lays you low and nearly makes you unable to produce coherent behavior. Seems it has to be worse than being drunk. Not that I’ve ever been intoxicated, but I couldn’t even walk by myself the first few days. I barely opened my eyes either because it made things worse. That part is better, but my head is still in misery. 

At today’s Dr visit, my ear looked better, but he said vertigo in pregnancy can hang on  longer because of the extra blood flow.  How ’bout a moment of silence to commemorate the days of misery still to come? Honestly, I need a moment of humble surrender to God’s will. Obviously He is trying to teach me something. As you can see, I have definite need of thankfulness in my current circumstances.

Prayers would be appreciated. And I do try to be thankful for the many good things I have: A healthy growing baby, A self-sacrificing hubby who outdoes himself taking care of me and the children, besides helping with laundry and dishes, and keeping up with business! Friends who check in and send flowers and meals. This sounds like a paradox, but I’m thankful I’m not in actual pain; I’m just miserable. Sleeping is the only relief I get, so I’m very grateful I can sleep! And there’s plenty more I could add.

There was another subject I had been pondering to write on, but somehow, thoughts about gratitude felt like the need of the hour. I sorta wanted to just scrap it and not think how much I needed to focus on gratitude instead of my difficulties. I’ll admit, I’ve been feeling quite gloomy about my situation. I had to miss out on some special events and felt sorry for myself. I scolded myself for being so childish but the scolding didn’t help. I was dismally weepy about this laying around business that was not only for 3 days but now over a week! I love to keep a clean, orderly house; even the dreaded tasks like laundry and cleaning bathrooms would be a joy to tackle if only I could. Preparing food for Thanksgiving would be a delight. Who wants to sit around day after day? But this year, God wants me resting instead of busy.

I was also struggling to believe God cares because He didn’t seem to be doing anything about my misery.  That’s a lame way to view God, I know. But those are the old paths I grew up with and Satan tempts me fiercely when I’m weak and despondent.

Back to the topic at hand. Another aspect of gratitude that we often hear is in the context of, ‘we can always find someone who has it worse than us.’ This is true. But I don’t think it’s a good view of gratitude. For those who are in much worse shape than we, how are they finding gratitude? Is God not supplying grace for them? This thought also bypasses our own difficulties/ pain/ trauma or whatever we’re going through. And it’s not healthy to ignore our pain/ trials. It’s not selfish to care for our own hearts. What I’m saying is, it’s much better to acknowledge our trials and hurts and bring them to Jesus than to ignore them and act like they don’t matter. When we don’t acknowledge our grief/ pain, it will actually drive the pain deeper and we will continue not ‘feeling the pain’. And that sets us up for dead emotions which isn’t healthy at all. 

It’s better to be honest about the hard things we’re facing. And ask God to help us be grateful and see the good. He knows our hearts, whether or not we really want to be thankful. 

Some practical ways to practice gratitude:

  • Display a Bible verse(s) that reminds us to give thanks.
  • Have a portion of your prayer list for giving thanks. (It’s easy to make requests for the multitudes of needs and forget to give thanks! )
  • Journaling is a great way to remember God’s gifts and give thanks for them.
  • Each evening, reflect over your day and think of something you’re thankful for.  (We have chosen to do this at our supper table for a number of years now.  And mentioning the food on the table isn’t allowed.. there must be more creativity than that!)
  • Ask God to help you change and be a more grateful person.
  • For one month, or however long you choose, establish a new daily habit such as jotting down something you’re grateful for, or thanking someone for what they did for you, or thanking God for something as soon as your awake. 

God really is good!! And we can’t change our mind on that when rough times hit us. We simply need to humble ourselves and trust His sovereignty. Maybe your Thanksgiving week will not turn out as planned. Remind yourself, God is still good and we have so much to thank Him for! Perhaps you should also remind yours truly. Judging by what she wrote she could use help in that department. 

I’m humbled there’s folks who enjoy reading my posts and I’m going to take a moment to say Thank you! It’s my prayer God can use my blog to be a blessing to others.

And here are a couple of delicious recipes if you’re looking for gluten free options for your Thanksgiving menu. 

Also, don’t forget to try out our laundry soap! We have a lot of happy customers!

Creepy Crawly Critters

Published on by Violet Rhodes4 Comments

This will be a long, gory story about the critters that probably 98% of us host. It’s sick to think about these things inside of us. But to do nothing about them is worse yet. 

Proceed with caution. But rest assured, I won’t be posting any pictures of parasites. Though I admit I took a few shots of mine, for reference.

First off, if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant, do not do a parasite cleanse. It seems everyone should know that much but in case somebody didn’t, now you know. 

Typically, we hear we are more susceptible to parasites if we’re around animals, if we’re not washing hands properly after bathroom use or if someone’s been out of the country. I’ve also read that if you wear shoes in the house, there’s a greater chance of parasites. While these statements are likely true, it’s not an inclusive list. Parasites can be picked up super easy. Yes, even in the USA. You don’t need to go to Africa or Haiti to get parasites in your body! That’s why I highly recommend doing a parasite cleanse periodically.  If you’ve never done one, then get with the program- I mean what are you waiting on?! (Probably me and this post. 🤣)

Wouldn’t we all like to think that surely we aren’t among the population infected with parasites?! But if you are a human being, it’s probably safe to say you have parasites of some sort.  70% of parasites are microscopic. So if you do a cleanse and don’t see any worms, don’t think it did no good. But if you see massive ones like Jerald and I did, you know you’re afflicted with a substantial dose of the critters.  

I mostly dislike animals. I hesitate to say I hate them for fear of animal rightist getting on my case. But I’m certainly not hugging and holding or housing any pets!! And much as I don’t like animals, as much hand washing I do and no wearing shoes in the house, and out of the country only once in my life, I was still infected with parasites. Loaded would be a better term.

Parasites will wreak havoc on our health. You might wonder, as I did, where all these critters were hiding out all these years?! Well, they aren’t scared to dive right into your poop. We have 20 feet of small intestine, which gives ample space to find lodging. But they also get in our bloodstream and organs. They steal nutrients from our bodies, causing multitudes of issues. They store heavy metals and toxins. Which is why, when you begin detoxing, you must make sure all your detox pathways are open: Your bowels, skin, liver and kidneys. Take a bowel mover to keep your bowels open and going several times a day. You want to get those critters out as soon as they die or become more active. You also detox through your skin, so getting yourself to sweat frequently is beneficial. I used my Inferno sauna and loved it. Ideally, your liver and kidneys should be detoxed prior to a parasite cleanse. Because, if you begin cleansing without these working properly, your symptoms will be much worse. 

Back when we were young married, Jerald and I both did a parasite cleanse. It was simply one herbal tincture. We never saw or felt any sort of results like we did with this Para cleanse kit!! I no longer have faith in those sort of cheap tinctures. I was introduced to the Para Kit by CellCore through my nutritional doctor at Spirit of Health and it produces the best results! The specific herbs in CellCore’s Para Cleanse have been used for years for deworming. You start in on a low dose and increase it slowly over the course of twenty days. Instructions should come with the kit. Along with the Para cleanse, you also take a binder of some sort- like bentonite clay, or biotoxin binder. This helps bind up and rid the toxins that are being released as the parasites die. I don’t recommend charcoal for a binder because that binds up both good and bad. 

This kit is not cheap! It costs, and believe me, I took bottles and bottles of this stuff!!

And don’t stop at one twenty day cleanse and think you’re good. You might only be getting started as I was. Even if you feel better initially, if you stop too soon, you will only stir up the worms, causing them to become more active/reproductive. If you’re feeling and seeing results, keep going for a few months at least.  Then take a month break and do it again 2-3 month or however long you need to.  It doesn’t matter to stay on this constantly for months at a time. You can also do a regular dose as the instructions say for the twenty days and then for a week over full moon, increase the dose to a full 6 capsules of both Para 1 and Para 2 twice a day, and 2 droppers of Para 3 twice a day.  Para 3 is a liquid tincture that really targets the long ropeworms. Doing a strong dose hits things hard and heavy along with the gravitational pull of the moon.  Afterwards, you can go back to your regular dose. 

I laugh at the thought of people trying to do a parasite cleanse for a week or couple days. In my opinion, that’s not even enough time to hardly get started killing the old critters, much less do a thorough cleansing!

June of 2022, Dr. Vaughn wanted me to do a parasite cleanse just to make sure that wasn’t part of my health challenges. Although I didn’t feel I had many of the typical symptoms of parasites, I began a 20 day cleanse. I started in on a low dose and gradually increased it. The first week wasn’t bad, but by the second week, I got horrible headaches and was very emotional. I cried and cried over who knows what. My doctor told me this is very common if you have parasites and it started when mine were getting killed off. Outbursts of anger and feeling very irritable are also common. I had all these many times along my journey.😪

It wasn’t until about halfway through the 20 day cleanse that I started actually passing parasites. I had an awful belly ache one night. Terrible. We were at a church picnic and I pretended I was fine but I was having horrible pain. I moved my bowels that night and thought I saw some suspicious, tailish looking stuff. It grossed me out!

The next day I had more bellyache and passed more stuff. I knew then, beyond a doubt, they were coming out!!!

I was off the cleanse then for 3 weeks because we had traveling and other things going on.  I started the second round on August 7 and did it for 30 some days. Then I thought I’d take a little break, but soon noticed I wasn’t sleeping as good, so I went right back on the cleanse and by this time, I was doing a very high dose. Six capsules each of both Para 1 and Para 2 twice a day. Two droppers of the Para 3 twice a day and I forget how many of the Biotoxin binder I took. Bowel Mover you just take as needed. Instructions should come with your kit.

I stayed on that heavy dose the rest of that winter until March sometime. It was rough. I mean horrible rough. Over and over I couldn’t believe the grand daddies I passed on a regular basis. It wore me out physically and emotionally. I was terribly depressed that winter and exhausted to the core!! But there’s no way out but through! You don’t want to just give up the ghost because now they’re all stirred up and mad. You gotta keep chugging!

I have definite stubborn streaks in me,  which can be a good and bad thing both. In this case, it was a good thing because I’d never have made it sloughing through stuff like this if I wasn’t stubborn. But at the same time, I also tend to feel deeply and I’m quickly sympathetic towards others. But when people just give up on something like a cleanse or detox because they think it’s too hard, then is when I don’t feel too sorry for them. I know I sound terrible mean, please forgive me.  But how can you expect anything to get better health wise if you’re not willing to endure some hardship to get to better health?! The only way out is through!

Along with the parasite protocol I was doing, my doctor had me start taking Turpentine with castor oil. Castor oil is powerful binder.  Turpentine is super powerful as well and kills parasites on contact. A super strong remedy!Turpentine was used years ago for deworming, so please don’t be alarmed. Although you must be cautious to start in on very small doses and take a break every now and then because Turpentine is super super strong! I did this for a week or 5 days at a time off and on that winter. Finally, in March, after that exhausting, depressive winter, my doctor recommended I take a break. Then, only for a week right over full moon, I would hit it hard again with a high dose of the Para cleanse. I did that for another 6 months until it seemed I was mostly cleaned out.

It took years, but finally my health caught up with me. I had deteriorating health mentally and physically. Doctoring with nutritional doctors helped, but it wasn’t until I started working with Dr. Vaughn Lawrence in Kansas City a few years ago, that I really got help. He focuses on dealing with root causes, not just addressing symptoms like some nutritionist do. He also does consults by Zoom, which makes it convenient for clients who are not in the area. He’s very knowledgeable and helpful! Look him up if you’d like to get help.

Besides parasites, I also had mold, heavy metals, and glyphosate which I tackled through detoxing supplements. But parasites were a major part in my crumbling foundation of health, so it’s no wonder I didn’t prosper.

And since my experience with horrible parasites, I now wonder about these people that start a new health product of some sort and claim they have such amazing results. I think to myself, well, if you have parasites you’re not going to prosper long term.  You’re simply feeding your parasites hearty nutrition and not getting the full benefits for yourself. Unknown to me, I was doing that for years.

So I’d like to say, do a parasite cleanse first! If you’re struggling with energy, catching every bug around, having sleep issues, or any kind of health issues, DO A PARASITE CLEANSE! If you have animals and especially if you have pets in your house, do a parasite cleanse! Actually, if you’re alive and think you feel good, do a parasite cleanse! You can’t go wrong! Detoxing is so important and then supplement with good nutrients to feed your gut- not the wiggle worms.

Probably not everyone has parasites as bad as I did. One of the things we concluded that I likely had them so bad was because of having cancer as a young girl.  The cancer was in my intestines, so obviously, things were bad then already. After I was back home from the hospital after my cancer surgery, Mom started me on Essiac herb tea and a green shake of some sort. I think alfalfa. Then also a line of supplements. But nothing gut healing like probiotics, bone broth or fermented foods.  Neither did I do a parasite cleanse which I’m sure would have been beneficial! Neither did I watch my diet. For years, I was in relative good health and ate most anything. I craved sweets and even drank sodas. Can you believe that?! I’d never go back to drinking that sugar laden debris for nothing! Parasites will make you crave sweets. I still enjoy a good dessert or cookie if its healthy, but I don’t crave sweets like I used to.

Over the years, I really struggled with insomnia. Parasites definitely play into that and looking back, I feel that was a big cause.  That being said, there can be dozens of causes for insomnia! Whacky hormones, magnesium deficiency, low blood sugar and many other things. I noticed I slept much better after I was on the Para cleanse for some time. But I really noticed a difference early this year when we tested my hormones and saw my testosterone was very low. After supplementing for that, my sleep really improved. So it’s not a good idea to self diagnose. The parasites played a big role, but so can hormone imbalances or a host of other things. 

Parasites also affect your mental health as it did mine. I’m grateful to see a big improvement in that area! Jerald has told me recently that I’m handling this pregnancy way better than I did in my last pregnancy which was about 6 years ago. And I also have more energy than last time too, which is notable, to be carrying a baby at my age! Although I’m not downplaying the oodles of beef liver pills I swallow. That, plus iron capsules and plenty other supplements go down the hatch daily, which I know makes a difference too. Thank God, if we detox and give our body what it needs, it can heal itself!

Jerald did a couple month rounds of this same Para cleanse this summer and fall. He, too, passed astounding twisted globs. It seemed he almost daily battled headaches and bellyaches. He could count on it, if he had a tremendous headache for a day, he would pass some noteworthy globs the next day. Then he’d feel better awhile and repeat the cycle. I had some of these headaches and bellyaches but dealt more with the emotional side of things. Both of us got extremely fatigued.

Ready to order the Para kit and get rid of those critters?! If you’re like me and want to see what’s coming out, here’s a practical tip: get a couple paint stirrer sticks from the hardware store. Dip the end in paint and let it dry. Now you have a perfect poker stick to check out those worms, because you might miss them otherwise. (You store the stick in the trashcan when not in use.) Plus, you may want to stretch them out in the pot as much as possible to estimate their length. I had some that were at least 2 feet in length. I’m not kidding! Of course, that was my estimate. And just to support myself here, my Doctor told me he frequently sees young ladies in their twenties that do this cleanse and pass 2 to 3 foot long ropeworms! I don’t know if females are more susceptible or not. I do know that when I see pot bellied men, I can’t help but think of all the parasites they’re probably hosting!

Another tip in spotting them is that they typically float in the toilet water. Look for floating creatures. They may blend in with your stool or be black in color. Maybe even white, although we never saw white ones.

I know this has probably been too much information, but I believe in being honest! It sounds unreal gross and sick and it is, but I got kinda immune to it. And in that aspect, I could easily poke around to see things.

Once again, I want to encourage you, there’s no way out but through! Don’t despair at what you might be feeling, despair at the thought of hosting these critters for many years, destroying your health! They regularly steal your nutrients. Just like feasting for a birthday party, I imagine the parasites dance and sing for joy at the steady supply of sugar laden, processed foods at their disposable.  DO A PARASITE CLEANSE! It’s not cheap, but it’s cheaper than being in the hospital for a dramatic health crisis. I’m definitely not saying it will cure all problems, or keep you out of the hospital, but you can’t go wrong with trying prevention. Parasites are only a prelude to worse problems down the road.

If you do this Para cleanse, I’d be happy to hear your results! You don’t need to be embarrassed to tell me, because I’ve been through it all! Don’t hesitate to send me an email and tell me how you felt and what you saw.

I have also done a parasite cleanse for the children, though we never noticed anything in their stools. If a child has sleep issues, lots of itches for no reason, irritability, or chews their nails, definitely do a parasite cleanse! The children’s cleanse that I used was this one, also found at Spirit Of Health. There are others too, of course, but I now tend to doubt just any old herbal tincture that claims to rid parasites.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Job 7:5

Though our lives on earth will never be in perfect health, we as Christians are God’s temple. He wants and expects us to take good care of our bodies as much as possible.  If we willfully disrespect our body’s health, we are not respecting and honoring God.

Stalled Inspiration And Apples

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

It’s been over a month since I last wrote. I have no deadline to meet as to when I write, which is lovely.  But it bugs me when I want to write and I lack inspiration. (Writing when you have no inspiration is like yacking when you have nothing to say) And some people certainly yack without saying much, and others don’t talk much but say a lot when they do. 

I don’t know what all is going to come out in this post, so beware. Don’t tell me I have nothing to write about because I am, after all,  writing about my lack of inspiration.

I couldn’t tell you how many times in the last weeks it weighed on my mind to post another blog, but what?! Oh sure, I have ideas, but my ideas tend to be loftier than the realities. Some of my ideas take research, which equals time and my time kinda spins out on me with trying to keep myself, baby and family alive and nurtured. And there’s always the fun things like organizing spaces or rearranging furniture and such things I’m fond of. Of which we did both this last week. (I said ‘we’ because hubby helped with the furniture.) But I did the pantry myself, of course.  I had to show him though, because he would hardly notice. And because it means so much to me to have a good-looking space again!

Back to the stalled inspiration. I wish I could inform you all on deep health subjects that sent everyone on massive clean-out-the-toxins sort of syndrome. You would throw out all the processed foods in your pantries. You would ditch all the plastics, polyesters and synthetic fragrances in your home. By the way, I’m trying to do this as much as I can, or that is reasonable. For example. I’m switching to more glass jars for food storage.  (Honestly,  I’ve got way too many modular mates in my cabinets than I care to admit and I don’t forsee me excommunicating those anytime soon, sad to say.) But I also have a growing collection of jars hosting dry items in my pantry, so it’s not like I’m not trying!

I am also getting rid of those plush, fuzzy wuzzy throws everyone loves. I’m replacing them with 100% cotton throws.  Because there’s plastic in those things! Ya’ll! Plastic is an endocrine disruptor! Don’t sleep with plastic, you could suffocate! Possibly even die. 

Instead of eating Hamburger helper and instant pudding, you would cook red beets and eat homemade saurkraut. You would burn beeswax candles and sew all your clothes out of hand spun wool or linen. There would be no plastic wrap or baggies in your kitchen drawers. Only cloth coverings or beeswax wraps. You would wake early, while it is yet dark, (Proverbs 31) and milk the cow, churn the butter and butcher a chicken for the day’s guests. You would fry up liver and onions on a regular basis for a nourishing meal. Or, you would swallow beef liver capsules in abundance. (which I do, and I’m sure some of you do too- hurray for a strand of homesteadyness in us!)

There’s moments we may dream of the slow paced days of yore. Where the homesteading Mama is doing all those virtuous chores plus more. She even made her own lye soap to scrub her family’s clothes. The wooden bowls and cutting boards were necessities, not aesthetics from the department store. But really. Would we want to trot to the outhouse 3 times in the dead of night? I bet the panthers and coyotes were real fears. What about taking only one bath a week?  And draw our own water besides? Or how bout sharing the bath water?!

These sort of thoughts whip me right back into the 21st century with a high dose of contentment. I’d take the less toxic life, for sure, but some things I’ll pass, thank you. 

To tell the truth, I have plans to write a long post or two on a subject of health that typically affects everyone with a beating heart. Actually, it affects the dead too. I mean, you could die from it and even dead people are afflicted with this malady. It sounds kinda deep, right?  Maybe I’ll hit the clean-out-the-toxin syndrome next round?! 

I’ve got accountability now, and perhaps that will inspire me to gird up my loins and write about this deep and gory topic I have long avoided!

P.s  I think this Mama had too much caffeine today by the looks of this post. Starbucks is rare for me, but today hubby said ”treat yourself,” and I sure did. I ordered a grande, then couldn’t even finish it.

Oh actually,  I was going to let you in on a sweet, crispy, healthy dessert for the season! I resurrected this recipe just yesterday or the day before, so I better type while the urge hits or I might lose it again. 

Baked Apples

Take 4-6 apples and carve out the insides as much as you can without hitting bottom or ruining too much good flesh. I used a knife and grapefruit spoon. Then fill the cavity with this mixture:

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans,  1/3 cup sucunat or coconut sugar,  1/4 cup melted butter,  1 teaspoon cinnamon,  1/2 teaspoon ginger

Bake at 375* for 35- 40 minutes. They will be piping hot so proceed with caution!

These are the filled apples before baking. They won’t look as pretty afterwards. They turn dark and the juice will cook out into the pan but they certainly are scrumptious!

We are pleased to announce we have recently launched a website for our tahor soap business!  http://www.tahor.shop

Of Trips, Tripping And A Surprise

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Last month we took a 9 day trip all the way to Lancaster PA. We made a variety of spots along the way, visiting family and friends.  Reason being for the trip was a gathering with Jerald’s family for his parents’ 40th anniversary this year.  They chose Lancaster as the area to visit.  We had a most beautiful Airbnb at Beechdale Farms in Bird in Hand. 

With the many miles to travel, I was inspired to create bags to pass out to beggars we may see along the city intersections. I had gotten some ideas elsewhere, then we added other items we thought would be beneficial. 

Here’s what we put together in a gallon ziploc:

A paper back New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs

Five dollar McDonald’s gift card

Granola bar

Apple

Water bottle

Propel packet

Our family enjoyed packing them up one evening.  I prayed for the people who would receive them and we even prayed we’d find people to give them to. I know God knows where they all went, but I actually don’t know what happened to most of them. And I wasn’t throwing them blindly out the window. Just hang on.

Josie wrote, “God loves you” on a sticky note.  We put the sticky note at John 3 and highlighted verses 16 & 17. We did not want these beautiful verses to be missed by someone who may not have a clue what the Bible even is!

The Box of finished bags.

Here’s what happened. We fixed 20 bags.  Our first stop for breakfast on the first day, we noticed the remnants of a beggar at a corner but no person in sight. By the time we were getting back on the interstate, the person was there but was way out of our reach with lanes of traffic.  We were so disappointed! So near, yet so far!

We drove on to Richmond KY to visit my parents and spent the night there.  The next day in Richmond, the children spied a beggar while they were driving with Grandma. So later we loaded up and purposely drove out past him for special delivery!

We were all pleased we were able to get one handed out on our second day! My mom said she sees this man on a regular basis, so who knows if he’s really poor or making a living off of begging. But it doesn’t matter. Every soul needs Jesus if they don’t know Him yet! It felt good to know we weren’t simply handing over cash, but actual necessities as well as knowledge about God, if he’ll take time to read the Bible.

The remainder of the trip we saw only one other possibility. It looked like he was crippled and stood at the side of the road near the bushes. He was empty handed, and there was no baggage around. So we’re not sure what was up. We would have glady given him one anyway. But we were not in the lane closest to him! In fact there was much urging going on inside our vehicle towards the driver, to please just get over in the other lane so we can hand him one! And soon there was traffic which definitely made us unable to hand one out. We were very disappointed!

And that was the last opportunity we saw! I couldn’t believe it. We packed all these bags and only handed out one! (Actually 2. My parents found the bags interesting and wanted one to keep, so they could show others when they come to visit Dad in the Assisted Living)

Then before the Rhodes’ departed ways in PA, we handed out a couple bags in hopes they encounter beggars along their routes home.  One or two got passed out like that. 

Our trip returning home was quite eventful and full of needs of our own. I don’t think we saw any possibilities for passing out bags. Hang with me till I finish explaining the bags, and then we’ll dive into our own neediness.

We returned home with way too many bags. I felt let down with our minimal progress. I thought it was a great idea; but after traveling over 2,600 miles we still had 80% of them left!

So one Wednesday night, we took them to church and announced that people feel free to take bags if they’re going on trips or downtown somewhere. That took care of all but 2 bags. I was so grateful! God knows where all those bags went, and I trust many of them got handed out to truly needy people! With more people going different directions and miles, God could still bless our efforts and beggars could be reached that we never could have. And we hope we can still bless someone with the 2 leftover bags when we get to a big city sometime. 

Our return trip home from PA began with lots of pain for me. At 5 A.M. as we were loading up for the 19 hour drive home, I slipped on the hardwood stairs. My left foot bent backwards and I came down on it. Talk about a tripping trip! It hurt so bad I feared it was broken. But we had no desire to wait at an ER for half the day and still possibly be unable to get satisfactory assistance. So we drove for 6 hours and located a Quick Care.

Now, we don’t keep painkillers on hand. We simply endure and/or use natural remedies.  I just absolutely detest taking anything that’s hard on the body. (Unless, of course, I’m undergoing surgery, I prefer anesthesia to being awake) But in this case, we stopped for Tylenol immediately; I even took a full dose; it was that bad.

As we started off the trip, we had prayer as we generally do. Afterwards, Jerald told me adamantly that I need to ask others to pray for me. This was 5:30 A.M. I was in alot of pain, we had a long way home, and we needed wisdom to know what we should do. We had a makeshift bed in the back where I laid and kept my foot propped. I laid there praying and crying simultaneously. In between that, I sent a message on my church ladies chat, and a couple more groups and friends asking for prayer.

We can not forget the power in prayer!! And we need not think we must be close to death before we ask for prayer either. It is humbling to expose one’s need and ask for prayer. But it is good for the soul! I know I’m getting off the highway of my current traveling, but it is a passion of mine, that we ought to be more open with each other.  Especially as a church brotherhood. It’s easier to ask for prayer for physical issues, but I think especially when we are facing spiritual struggles or needs, it’s too easy to keep silent.  If we paste smiles on our faces and answer the “how are you” with a trite “I’m fine”, when we are actually discouraged and struggling, we are not being honest. I don’t mean you have to spill your sorrows to the first and every person you meet, but we can at least be honest and say we’re not doing so great and we could use prayer. We don’t have to go in-depth, but if a good friend asks us, please, let’s be honest! None of us have our lives so neatly packaged up in godliness that we have zero needs. We’re all broken, needy vessels. And that’s the sort of vessels that God can use best!

Back to the travels. We drove until Zanesville Ohio where Jerald had researched and found an Orthopedic quick care.  He wheeled me in and they took care of us in record time.  And praise be to God, it was not broken! A very bad sprain to be sure, but I felt I could manage that after envisioning a cast, maybe surgery and being laid up for many weeks. They fitted me with a bulky boot and we were off!

We felt so so blessed to be able to keep heading towards home! We stopped at Chipotle and Jerald and the children went in to order and use the restroom. We ate both lunch and supper on the road and I did not get out unless I absolutely had to use the bathroom. The first couple times I had to go in, it hurt tremendously. The last stop I could tell it was slightly more manageable. And no,  I didn’t take any more Tylenol!

The children handled the traveling quite well. They were more pleasant with each other than sometimes, and I myself could hardly believe how cheerful I felt in spite of everything! Those who know me well, know that being positive in negative circumstances is a bit of a stretch. Prayers of the saints, people. We can not forget the impact of prayer!

There was two more things we were grateful for on that trip home. On our first leg of the trip, while I was weeping and praying and messaging friends, we heard sirens nearby.  And what do you know, a police was stopping us!! I truly wondered what calamity would befall us next. But he was in a good mood. He stopped us for driving too closely to the vehicle in front, as well as speeding. My good man was driving as skillfully and rapidly as he dared, to make good time with getting me to the Quick Care, plus we had a long day in front of us yet. So we were super grateful he didn’t peer in the back and see me laying  there, neither did he give us a fine! The cost of it could have been high, combined with the Dr bills of the week, (This was only my second visit to an Urgent Care in 3 days time; the first visit being a reason I won’t enlarge on) Thus, we had extra bills besides the usuals, besides our income in July being slim picking. Asking the Lord to supply our needs was definitely in my requests that morning as well.

Secondly we were so grateful our vehicle held up! The transmission has been sounding weird now and then, for about 6 months now. It uses too much oil, has missing pieces on the body and seemingly overall is in its last remaining days. We’ve decided to just run it till it kerplunks on us to give us time to save money for something else.  It reminds me of the widow’s oil in the Bible how it just kept coming. And somehow God just keeps our rig running too! We arrived safely home soon after midnight.

I had to take it pretty easy the first week and a half. It was hard on me to not be up and active. But Josie did well in being my maid. She does good with the laundry and some days mostly took care of it herself.

I took Complete tissue and bone capsules to aid the healing of my sprain, along with the Complete tissue and bone healing salve.  These capsules are definitely some to keep on hand for sprains or breaks!

Photo credits to Shannon Wittmer photography

While the Rhodes’ were together, we got a photographer to do family pictures for us. This is Jerald’s complete family, Luke and Arlene Rhodes. 

It’s been over a month since I last posted. Ironically, I should have had plenty of time to write since I was laid up. But I was simply not in the mood! For the longest time, I did not feel like rehashing this trip, and just the thought of it seemed to almost trigger nausea. But I wanted to share about the beggar bags and didn’t have another post that I felt ready to write about. Pregnancy blahs going on…..

Yes, you read that right! We’re having a baby!! I could hardly believe it myself when I found out! It is a definite answer to prayer. I feel so blessed and unworthy of the privilege to be carrying a precious little life! ♥️ (This was also why I hated even more to take Tylenol for my foot)

And no, I’ve not been really sick. Fatigue 100% yes. Nausea sometimes, but not horrible, just kinda a blah feeling afternoon and evenings. Food aversions were/are a definite thing.

With my health challenges, and food allergies in the past years, there were many times that I had fatigue, stomach aches, and nausea. There was plenty times I couldn’t help thinking, “if only it was for a good cause.” So, in my current case, I could not complain. I am too grateful for the gift of life and a good reason for these minor afflictions! This gratefulness also helped me in the trial of my sprained foot. Over and over I reminded myself how much better this was than losing my baby!

Photo credits to Emmie Mae photography

This was our pregnancy announcement. When we took the family photos, we told the children it’s a surprise in the box and they will find out the next week. The box held ultrasound pictures and a riddle for Josie to read. We had them open the box at a later time. Then when they opened it, Josie guessed, and Reece was keenly disappointed there wasn’t a toy inside.😅 But they are both happy about a new sibling!

Don’t forget to give our laundry products a try if you’d like to switch to something clean, safe and scent free! Or ask to join our Telegram/CloudVeil group if you’d like more information and tips!

Summer Recipes

Published on by Violet Rhodes1 Comment

With the rate summer is speeding by, I better get these recipes published before I miss the season entirely! They’ve been on the radar for some time now, but getting them ready and into a post, is taking me longer than intended. Oh well, I can always say, “it’s summertime, I’ve just been so busy!”  That’s the usual thing to say these days, right? Ever hear anyone say, “I’ve been so bored this summer?!” Me neither.  Excuses aside, let’s get on with the post.  Come along for some of our summer favorites!

This coleslaw recipe is a fantastic way to spice up an outdoor picnic. It’s not your typical coleslaw and we love the diversion of the usual. I prefer not adding the tomatoes.

This next recipe we only started using recently.  It is super delicious on grilled chicken, but can be used on other grilled meats as well. It’s also great to add on extra sauce when you’re serving the meat. I would highly recommend making your own mayonnaise to avoid consumption of those corrupt seed oils. You can find the recipe I use in this post.

I feel a teeny bit partial to this sauce simply because of it’s name. It reminds me of those good old days that were, when I used to live in Sweet Home Alabama. Some things I don’t miss though, are the chiggers and the 7 month stifling humidity.

Regrettfully, I don’t have a good picture of this sauce.

My family loves baked beans, but I decided with my own stock of home canned beans, there’s no reason I can’t make my own. No carmel color, preservatives or atrocious amounts sugar in these either! You can definitely tweak this recipe to your liking. Swap out the black beans for navy if you prefer, as well as seasonings/onions.  I’m a little hit & miss in the seasonings and sauce/ketchup. I often just guess and dump. Most times my Guesser turns out to be pretty accurate!

I devised this recipe many years ago, then revised it this summer. You might freak out at the idea of adding in bacon grease along with the bacon. But we’re blessed to raise our own organic hogs. Because of that, I don’t mind adding in the fat. We love bacon! Typically when I fry bacon, I pour the fat into a glass jar I keep in my fridge for this purpose. Frying green beans? Use some of this fat instead of another oil. Popping popcorn? Bacon grease adds a delicious flavor and we much prefer that over any other oils.

This hummus is an excellent way to sneak in  protein for healthy snacking! My family backslides into wanting chips to eat it with instead of veggies. But when I prep it bright and colorful like this, they’re not as apt to ask for chips. Another way to do it is to make sure there’s no chips on hand in the pantry, and then you can honestly say, “we are out of chips. This time we’re eating veggies with hummus.”

Savor the flavors of summer before it’s over!

Tahor

Published on by Violet Rhodes2 Comments

If you’ve never seen this word before, that’s okay. Makes me feel better because there’s plenty of times I see words and need to look them up.

Hang on and we’ll get to the meaning of this word in a minute. 

Last summer I was making my own laundry soap and my ever salesy hubby says “We need to make a laundry soap to sell.” And so it was, he takes it upon himself to research and mix up small batches and research and critique some more.  I was the tester and he the scientist. If we regret our decision to start this small business, I can safely say it was his idea, not mine!

And here we are, a year later, and have just launched our laundry powder for sales!! We’ve had friends and family testing and  trying it out since March, but it’s only last week since we first really advertised.

I have been intentional in the past with not running ads on my blog. Now here I am, advertising right in your face! Tahor (pronounced taw-hore’) is our business name. Tahor is Hebrew and means clean, fair, pure. It is found over 80 times in the Bible. One common verse that uses this word is Psalms 51:10- Create in me a clean (tahor) heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. This is what we want our products to be- clean, no fillers, yet safe ingredients that clean well. 

Tahor Laundry Powder is fragrance free! Fragrance or perfume really is a huge endocrine disruptor, which you shouldn’t take lightly.  I’ve been away from fragrances in both body products and cleaning for many years now! I cannot hack, I mean cannot hack fragrance! If someone sits beside me in church with perfume or lotion, believe me, my olfactory receptors sit up and take note! That’s when I slyly pull my roller bottle of essential oils out of my purse and rub a bit under my nose, hoping to smell oils instead of chemicals. I console myself if anyone smells my oils, no worries. If they’re free to wear chemicals, I’m free to wear oils!

Packaged products

Tahor Laundry Powder only has 4 ingredients! No fillers that gunk up your washer and do not break down in the environment! We offer this in a 7 lb. bag as well as a bulk option of 12 lbs. (Not pictured). We strongly recommend cleaning your washer with Tahor Luminate prior to using Tahor Laundry Powder. Especially so if you’ve been using a typical store bought detergent- one full of fillers and fragrances and other unpronounceable ingredients.

Laundry Powder label

Tahor Luminate is great for soaking clothes/ brightening. It’s also perfect for cleaning! Moisten your sink, shower or toilet, sprinkle on Luminate and let soak for 10-15 minutes or more.  Scrub clean and rinse. Got a burned pan? Fill with water and sprinkle with Luminate.  Let set and hour or two. This will do a good job of lifting that scum off! With only a little scrubbing, your pan will look so much better!

The Luminate comes in a 3 lb. package.

Luminate label

All of our ingredients have an A rating with EWG! We currently only offer 2 products but may add more in the future.

Ready to try out our fragrance free, environmentally friendly products?! To place an order simply hop over on our website! We currently offer shipping within the USA only. You can also stay updated by joining our Telegram channel.

Garage Sale

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Tis the season for garage sales! Where one person’s junk becomes another’s treasure.

Who doesn’t love a sale with good stuff and good prices?! The key word here is good. Garage sales where they’re trying to make a living off the sales are no fun.  Sales with trashy, frazzled, hairy and worn out items aren’t fun either. If something has seen it’s better days, there’s no sin in discarding it. If you’re out to spend money without having definite needs, that will happen automatically.  Having a mental or written list helps, but I realize sometimes you see a good priced item you hadn’t intentionally been looking for.  If you have use for it, it’s fine. But don’t go to buy any little gadget because it’s cheap and you don’t already have one.

When I see something I think I could use,  I like to ask myself, will I really use it? Where will I put it? Do I already have something I could use for the same thing? Is it worth the cleanup once I get home?  i.e. hairy bedspread, wicker basket etc. Sometimes, in the fun of shopping, the responsibility of taking care of the items once we’re home momentarily evaporates.

I enjoy garage sales, but don’t buy much anymore.  It’s still fun to shop, and sometimes you really do find a great bargain! And I like them for finding clothes for my children.

There is so much truth to this. The less you have, the easier to organize!

Just last week I participated in a garage sale with a number of church ladies contributing.  Thanks to Jolene Miller for opening up her garage and managing the sales!

I always keep a spot where I put unwanted items as I come across them. I had a nice little stack, but I still sorted through my kitchen drawers and thought of various items in my house or garage to pass on.  Lest anyone think it’s a once an done thing- I’m sorry, it is not.  It’s a continual process to stay on top of clutter and simply stuff that creeps in!

Here I was sorting through the kitchen glasses and drawers. Over the years I have declutterd, organized and reorganized in my kitchen, and I still find room for improvement!

The finished spaces ⬇️

These are both drinking glasses/ jars as well as  food/drink storage. Multiple use items are the way to go!

This divided organizer for lids is something I just implemented and love! We use these lids all the time. But I can push it back in the drawer, or pull it up front when I need a lid from the back row. We use these daily, so it merits easy access. The white lids are plastic and fit wide mouth jars. We bought them off Amazon. The small bamboo lids (also off Amazon) fit the small glass jars in the drawer, which are Oui yogurt jars.

Tips for hosting a garage sale:

* Long before you plan to have a sale, sort through your closets, drawers and cabinets. Or keep a designated box/place for putting unwanted items. This can happen regularly if you have the right mindset.  You can be putting dishes away one evening and suddenly realize you haven’t used that bowl for months.  Or you get disgusted how every time you try to put this dish away, you have to lift 5 other things out, to shove this item back in. Not a good feeling! Get rid of stuff until you only have what you use and love! 

* Mark your items clearly and securely.  In the bustle of setting out your items for display, those little Dollar store garage sale stickers easily pop off. I advise a big roll of masking tape, scissors and sharpie instead. This way you can also make your own exact prices.

* Masking tape is not only great for pricing but for wrapping items such as appliance cords, lids on kettles and such like. It holds well, but can easily be removed.

* To keep the math easier when tallying customers bill, price your items only at 25 cent increments, and even dollars. This may not bother most people, but I despise tallying up 15 cents, then 1.75, another 20 cents etc. Plus, it makes shopping easier for your customers. Most people carry quarters and dollars, but not always dimes, nickles and pennies. It saves the old ladies from scrounging around way down deep into their change purse and thus holding up the line. (Nothing at all against seniors! but you get the idea)

* If you aren’t sure it’s good enough to sell, at least put a very cheap price on it, so no one feels cheated. You can throw it away later if it doesn’t sell, but I still advise caution about trying to sell stained, or extremely worn items! It doesn’t promote a good Christian witness.

Here are pictures of a garage sale I had 2 years ago. I was always one who was quick to get rid of things, but this was at a time when I was also learning more about minimalism. Therefore, I was ruthlessly eliminating things in my house and was appalled at the piles!

This is embarrassing, but yes, this whole garage was all our stuff!

Tips for shopping garage sales:

* Start early. (But not to be greedy! And please be respectful if some sales are not yet open.) But starting early helps with heat, mood, and energy levels. If you’re planning to go, it just makes sense to get there earlier in the day rather than noon or after.

* Remember to be courteous.  In shopping as well as driving.  If there’s neighborhood sales going on, there’s usually lots of vehicles amid pedestrians. It’s easy for me to move at a brisk trot. I need to remind myself to slow down instead of acting as if it’s my first garage sale ever.

* Have a written or mental list.  If you’re looking for specific clothes for your children,  have notes as to what sizes, colors etc. It helps guard against that momentary thrill of shopping!

* Scrutinize closely before you buy.  Does the zipper close properly? Are all the buttons still attached? Does the lid close well? Is it easy to clean? Do I have a specific place to put this in my house? Or any other questions to personalize it to the situation.  Here’s where this quote may be beneficial- “I may be talking to myself, but I need expert advice.”

* Take a small zippered pouch or crossbody type wallet. I love this for hands free shopping! I often stick my small change purse in my pocket, then still take my phone in case I need to contact hubby about some item.

* Keep a big bottle with chilled water in your vehicle. You get parched hopping in and out and trotting up  & down the streets. Cold water is refreshing, plus you won’t need to buy any bottled water or lemonades for sale! (Although I give room to purchase a cup of lemonade when there’s children with a stand)

* Remember your identity as a Christian.  People watch us and notice what we buy. That questionable DVD or romance novel may only be 50 cents, but will it be a good influence for my mind? It’s easier to buy something questionable if its cheap, but that doesn’t make it a bargain! Plus, what kind of testimony does it leave when they see what we bought?

Consider what you buy and consider what you store.

All Things Strawberry

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Fresh strawberries are a rare fruit this part of Nebraska. Sure, we can find them in the grocery stores, but I mean sun ripened, fresh picked, juicy berries. 

When I was growing up, it was a common thing to visit a local strawberry patch open for picking. And oh, I miss that! There’s just no strawberry farms locally. The few that are within an hour or two away have prices that scare me away. 

Many years ago, our family picked strawberries to fill orders for Mausts Strawberry Farm in Accident, Maryland.  We’d leave early and pick before it got too hot. Mom would pack cereal boxes and milk in a cooler. Breakfast was completed with a side of fresh berries. I’m the little girl in blue and suspicious I wasn’t much help🤭 This is a picture of an old scrapbooked photo, hence the caption.

L-R  Faith, Jonathan, Emanuel, Nathan, Me, Millard

The first few years we lived in Nebraska, I’d get a stock pile of strawberries from Aldi, when the price dropped as low as 99 cents a box. Yet it still repulsed me to put store bought berries in my freezer! The past couple years now, they’ve never dropped that low (thanks inflation) so I’ve not put any strawberries in the freezer.

Some weeks ago I began dreaming and praying about fresh strawberries. Fresh strawberry desserts and strawberry jam…. my mouth nearly watered with anticipation! I knew of a farm many hours away that sold them for $2. a pound. My dreams were just that. Dreams. All my lofty plans to travel and see relatives while in the process of acquiring red berries, crashed down (as feared) when my logical hubby started figuring travel expenses combined with the cost of berries. He checked into other farms within a few hours drive, but like I mentioned, the price was enough to drive any budget conscious person away!

But God still answered my prayer! I was able to aquire 14 quarts of fresh strawberries without traveling anywhere! Last week, my in laws, Luke and Arlene Rhodes came out to attend the local funeral of Glenn Bender. No, it wasn’t the kind of circumstances you would ask for, but since it’s strawberry season in southern Indiana, I asked her if she could bring me some. I didn’t even have to pay for postage! Although the berries weren’t cheap at all, and were actually over ripe and on the small side, they were wonderful for  strawberry shortcake, delight and jam making!

Now next week, my Mom (from KY) is coming to visit us. Due to my Dad’s unstable health the past years, she hasn’t been able to leave him. But he’s been in good professional care for quite some time now, which makes it possible for her to leave a couple days. It’s been almost 5 years since she was last here. We are quite pleased she has a ride out here, and can you guess?! She plans to (hopefully!) be bringing me 2 or 3 gallons of fresh strawberries!!

And to be on the safe side for berries next Summer? My ever ingenious gardener of a husband went and ordered 50 strawberry plants!! And no, this is not for a ”you pick” patch. It’s for Rhodes family picking! I presented him my fears of weeds and all the work it takes to keep them alive. He calmly assures me, he’ll see after them. Check back with me next year and see if I’ve had my fill of strawberries or strawberry plants!

Here’s a few snapshots of our delightful strawberry desserts we’ve enjoyed the last couple days. They can’t be eaten in silence. There’s always some noisy groans of “mmmmmms” erupting somewhere!

This strawberry shortcake was out of Hope’s Table but substituted with gluten-free flour mix.
Strawberry delight. Everyone already has a recipe right? I kinda thought so, so I won’t bother sharing this one.

Strawberry Lemonade

Doesn’t the very name suggest a sort of summertime tea party kissed with dappling sunshine? An old quilt thrown on lush grass beneath the stately maple. Little girls in pig tails scamper outside clutching plastic cups and the bag of pretzels Mama gave them to enjoy. Inside, the remains of the lemonade making are still strewn on the counter. Their patient mother kindly ignores it and wipes up the sticky spills. Now, if she can have ten minutes of silence and an iced coffee to collect herself, she will be most grateful! Doesn’t that sound refreshing?!

I don’t really have a cut and dried recipe. (How would it be possible to have a cut and dried recipe for liquids anyway?!) Don’t ask me! 

Basically, make a gallon of Country Time Lemonade mix according to directions on canister, but go scant on the water. 

Thaw frozen strawberries (or use fresh) and blend until a nice puree texture.  Add 1 to 2 cups puree per gallon of lemonade. Recently, when I made it for a bridal shower, I did 2 cups puree. It was really good but was more red than pink in color.  Using less puree allows the yellow of the lemonade to shine through better. 

Unless your strawberries already have sugar, then I suggest adding in a bit more to the lemonade to help combat the sourness of the berries.  I don’t know how much I added…. maybe 3/4  cup? Or you can totally use stevia to round out the sweetness.

This lemonade is delicious and so fun and easy to dress up!

When I made this for the bridal shower, I threw in whole, frozen strawberries to help keep it chilled. And you gotta add in a couple lemon slices!

For a healthier version of this, make your usual fresh lemonade with juiced lemons, then stir in the pureed strawberries. I’ve made it both ways. 

Strawberry Jam

This is another one of those nostalgic recipes. I mean, if you grew up Mennonite, did you even eat bread without homemade strawberry jam?! What’s better than a piece of toast from homemade bread, slathered in butter and a well rounded spoonful of Mom’s strawberry jam?

Because Jerald and I don’t handle gluten, we haven’t been eating bread for years (to speak of- here and there a bite or two). Thus, we also eat very little jam. I do make sourdough bread for the children. But very recently I began dabbling with organic, fresh milled wheat for bread making. The flour being fresh milled is key to the vast expanse of vital nutrients found in it. Flours on the shelf are bleached and stripped of nutrients, then synthetic vitamins added back in. A far cry from any health benefits. 

All this to say,  I’m holding my breath to see if we can handle this kind of bread! And if we can, bring on the strawberry jam!

There’s massive amounts of ‘gluten intolerance’ around these days. I don’t say that lightly because I know for a fact how it affects me if I eat regular flour. But stay with me here-  I’ve heard it explained that there are other things in store bought flours that can irritate the gut more than the actual gluten content. So, for many people, organic, fresh milled flour may just be tolerated by them! 🤞

What a long bunny trail to go down to get to the strawberry jam! Today’s jam recipe is quite healthy compared to the normal versions. I just couldn’t stand to make jam for my family using atrocious amounts of sugar, or the boxed Surejell or Certo. Some years ago I saw a recipe using Granny Smith apples for pectin, but since I never made jam anymore, I finally deleted the email.  That’s all it took to need it. Gratefully, Gina Martin sent me the recipe link when I asked her for it. Here it is.

To 3 lbs strawberries, I used 1 ¹/² cup raw sugar and 3 teaspoons Sweet leaf stevia. I wanted it to be sweet enough that you don’t think of it being a healthier version. Plus, I think Sweet leaf brand stevia isn’t super sweet, so it took extra.
Pardon the lighting in these pictures. I made the jam in my basement kitchen which is significantly darker.
Use an extra large kettle to cook the jam because it bubbles up a lot. Here you can see how far it’s come up.
I scrubbed labels off these old jam jars because it was more thrilling to fill clean looking jars. Make a paste of baking soda and oil, rub over sticky labels, let set a few minutes, then scrub off. I also used essential oil and a scrubby. It was hard work, but it made my brain a lot happier.  
Clean jars of healthy strawberry jam bring so much satisfaction. Try it!

And to clarify, since the jam is in jars, this is still freezer jam, not canned. I happen to have an affinity with glass for most food related storage.

SOLE WATER

Published on by Violet Rhodes2 Comments

We have probably all heard of the importance of rehydrating our body with electrolytes after sweating and strenuous activities in the heat. But instead of reaching for Gatorade or your canister of fancy electroltye powder, let’s take a look at a simple method for mineral and electrolyte intake!

Have you heard of the benefits of Sole?(pronounced so-lay). Sole is simply a concentrated water/salt solution. It is water that has absorbed unrefined sea salt to its full capacity. By making a strong infusion of salt and water, it packs a punch of minerals like potassium, iodine, zinc, copper, magnesium and more.

For years, we’ve been told that salt can be harmful, so drinking concentrated salt water may sound questionable at first. The key is using the correct kind of salt!

So just to be clear- we’re not talking of iodized table salt. That salt is a villain! Stripped of its minerals except for sodium chloride. This kind of salt can cause many problems, including high blood pressure. 

The salt I’m talking about here is unrefined sea salt- Himalayan, Celtic, and Redmond Real salt are all great choices.

Sole has been used for centuries in some countries. Here are some of the scientific benefits of sole water:

* Supports Hydration– our body needs electrolytes to absorb water; sea salt used in sole water has electrolytes. When you add sea salt to your water, it helps your body absorb the water and minerals, which helps to keep you hydrated longer.

* Helps The Body Detox- the minerals in sole aid the body in its natural detoxification. Sole is also naturally antibacterial. 

Do you feel parched in the morning? Here may be partly why:  Our body uses water even as we sleep because then is when it naturally detoxifies and repairs itself. It is important to rehydrate our “working engine” in the morning!

* Boosts Energy- because of the many minerals and stored energy in the salt crystals, it can boost your energy levels. 

* Improves Digestion– Sole helps stimulate digestion, helping with food absorption, weight loss and regularity. It is even used as a colon cleanse.

* Improving Blood Sugar- some people have noticed improvement in their levels after using sole.

* Blood Pressure– people have noticed a reduction in blood pressure from using sole.

* Relieves Muscle Cramps–  We’ve probably all heard how magnesium relieves cramps. And magnesium is one of the key electrolytes in sea salt. No wonder it’s great for cramps! Magnesium itself has loads of health benefits.

* Helps with the alkaline/acidity balance in  the body

* Sole’s high mineral content also makes it great for hair, skin and nail health.

* It can also help dissolve and eliminate sediments that lead to gallbladder and kidney stones.

This list is of sole’s benefits is not conclusive, but hopefully enough to make you want to try it out!

Let’s get on with how to make it; It really couldn’t be more simple!

Basically it’s 1 part sea salt to 3 parts filtered or distilled water.

So for a quart jar, I put in 1 cup salt and 3 cups water. 

For a pint jar: a half cup salt and 1 ¹/² cup water.

Stir well and let set on your counter overnight. By the next morning, the salt should be mostly dissolved. It should still have a fine layer of salt on the bottom. This means the water has absorbed the salt to its full capacity. The sole is now ready to use!

I use Redmond Real salt. We’ve been using this salt for many years.
Use a non-metal spoon to stir it and a plastic or non- metal lid to screw on the jar. 
This is my current sole, showing you the salt layer at the bottom.

If there is no salt left on the bottom by the next morning, add in a bit more salt each day until you get that layer on the bottom of the jar.

To Use Sole- Stir or shake the jar and mix 1 teaspoon sole into a glass of water and drink on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. After a month or two, you can take 2 teaspoons every morning if you’d like. Just be careful not to incorporate too much too quickly. It can cause loose stools or detox headaches. 

And once your body is accustomed to sole, you could totally add in another teaspoon later in the day. Especially if you sweat a lot or feel you need the extra electrolytes. You won’t hardly overdose; if you do, your bowels (or a headache) will notify you.

While sole is super beneficial for anyone, it is wonderful for those who struggle with headaches! This may sound counterintuitive to what I just said about it causing a headache; let me explain.

There can be a hundred reasons for headaches and I’m definitely not diving into that. But dehydration is a leading cause of headaches! You may be constantly chugging the water, but if you’re not replenishing yourself with minerals and electrolytes, your kidneys will simply flush out the excess water and not truly hydrate.

Our family has been drinking distilled water for years and absolutely love it. (And highly recommend!) But I didn’t realize the importance of adding in electrolytes and minerals on a regular basis. It was only in the last year or two that I became aware of this. And in case you’re thinking you will simply drink spring water or something where it still retains its minerals, that is not the answer. You could drink a bathtub full of water and still not get your needed electrolytes/minerals.

So I would highly recommend giving sole a try and see if it erradicates your headaches. It’s inexpensive and oh, so simple!  You’ve got nothing to lose because there are many benefits, even if you don’t notice anything at first.

If it causes headaches, just back off on your dose a bit.  Jerald and I started in with 1 teaspoon for a couple months.  Then I increased it to 2 teaspoons for a couple weeks. Last week I was feeling quite industrious in the health department. A couple times I stirred in a good 2 ¹/² teaspoons sole to my morning water. Headaches troubled me. Honest confession here: as I was writing this blog and reading over my information about sole, I learned there is something like detox headaches from taking too much.🤦‍♀️ Lesson learned!

Sole will last in your cabinet/pantry indefinitely.  It won’t spoil because of the salt’s antibacterial properties.

I have been super pleased in the reduction of headaches that Jerald experiences since incorporating sole into our morning regimen! We know gluten causes him headaches. And his headaches have definitely lessened since he (mostly) cut that out of his diet. But adding sole into his diet has lessened the headaches even more!!

Sole is a wonderful, simple, and inexpensive way to enhance your health. There is no need for those expensive, flavored electrolyte drinks. But of course, if you prefer those, here’s a couple things to look for:

* Make sure they’re not full of sugar or other additives.

* No artificial flavorings or food colorings.

* The potassium level should be higher than the sodium.

Here are three good, clean electrolyte powders if you still prefer that:

Dr. Bergs

Pickleball

Just Ingredients

Summer and hot weather is just around the corner- make sure you’re hydrating well! Remember, electrolytes help your body absorb that water better. So drink up, Chuck!

The Crown of Thorns

Published on by Violet Rhodes1 Comment

Guest post written by Jerald Rhodes i.e. my husband 😍

Have you ever pondered the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head on this day several thousand years ago? If you’re like me, you read it in the crucifixion story, make a mental note that it would’ve been painful, and then move on. Recently, I acquired a crown of thorns through the dispersal of my grandfather’s estate (the late Jonas N. Schrock) and decided to do a study into the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head at his trial. Following is a brief synopsis of what I discovered in that study (followed by the back story on the crown of thorns that was my grandpa’s).

The day of Christ’s trial could be summed up in one word- horrendous. I have read a book or two that go into detail on what actually took place that day and I always come away in awe of what Christ endured physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually; all areas of life that we face! For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin- Hebrews 4:15. If you are interested in reading in depth on the subject, I recommend starting with Lee Strobel’s The Case For Christ.

Thorns are mentioned various times in the Bible and are introduced very quickly. We find them already in the third chapter of Genesis and we learn that thorns are a consequence of sin. You will find this theme fairly consistent throughout the Bible (Paul’s thorn in the flesh is from a different Greek word used only once in the Bible and carries the thought of a bodily annoyance or disability).
Genesis 3:17-18 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned

Thorns are an outworking of sin, the very thing that Christ came to earth to conquer! Did the soldiers who made the crown of thorns fully understand that? It is evident that this crown of thorns was to mock Jesus as being a king as well as the purple robe and the reed placed in His right hand. But this crown went way farther than just mocking Jesus for being a king. These thorns were a part of the very curse placed on the devil back in the garden, and he was using them with all his might. While the Roman soldiers were likely happy to see a Jewish king (earthly in their minds) being taken care of and humiliated, the old devil was using these thorns to take another swing at Christ in retaliation for that curse placed upon him.

Praise God those thorns did not prevail and Christ rose victorious from the grave- defeating sin, the devil, and the thorns! What a wonderful gift available to each of us- salvation! For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord- Romans 6:23

When I think of the humility it took for Christ to allow those thorns to be placed on His head, enduring the mockery of his Kingdom, and the curse of sin those thorns represented I am reminded that I have not attained and that I need the continual sanctification process in my life.

Grandpa’s Crown of Thorns

Now for the story on the crown of thorns from my grandpa! I well remember as a boy going to grandpa’s place on a regular basis. Grandpa was a bishop of Mt Joy Mennonite Church in Daviess County Indiana which is where I grew up and attended church until moving here to Nebraska. Grandpa loved to study and there was a room in their house that doubled as a work office and library/study. Above his desk was a library full of books mostly religious in nature that he would use in preparation for his sermons. They covered a wide range of subjects- Bible numerology, eschatology (he was an amillennial), cults, Anabaptist thought, and Bible history to name a few. I am honored to have some of those books in my possession- The Archko Volume (reprinted archeological writings of the Sanhedrin), a 3 volume set of Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, and a reprinted Handbook by Dietrich Phillips.

At the very top of this library hung this crown of thorns. I don’t ever remember it not being there. I don’t ever recall it being taken down and looked at by anyone. In fact I don’t ever recall any conversations around it other than the occasional reference to the fact that it may have been similar to the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. The memory of it hanging there is embedded my mind.

I never really knew the history of where they came from until I met my wife! This crown of thorns was put together by Homer Yoder of Sparta TN who is an uncle to Violet. Soon after we started dating, Homer approached me and asked if my grandpa still had them, which was the first I knew of where they had come from.

Recently, I decided to get some additional history on them, so I called up Homer. For those of you who don’t know him, he’s an unassuming older man residing in the hills of Tennessee. He spends his time making jam there and also has his “mule shed,” where he has an assortment of antiques collected. He answered the phone in his slow, usual drawl. I have only known him part of my life, but the few interactions I’ve had with him have proven him to be the perfect candidate to assemble a crown of thorns in memory of our Savior.

He shared with me that he assembled the crown of thorns in approximately 1965 or 66 while a youth living in Morrison, TN. After listening to a compelling Communion message one Sunday, he then went out into the woods and assembled the crown of thorns in memory of what his Savior had gone through! The crown of thorns then took a place on a shelf, and he went on with life.

There were only 3 families living in that small Mennonite community at that time- Denver Yoders (Homer’s dad/Violet’s grandpa), Henry Yoders, and Levi Millers.** Being a small community, they did not have a resident bishop, so my grandfather was filling the role of bishop for them at the time. Grandpa made numerous trips down to Tennessee, and on one such trip, he went to baptize a class of applicants, Homer being one of them (as well as Violet’s dad Millard). Homer then presented the crown of thorns as a gift of appreciation to Grandpa for baptizing him!

The crown of thorns is approaching 60 years of age. I plan to hang it above the desk in my office as a remembrance of Grandpa, Homer, and most of all, my Savior.

**The settlement in Morrison, TN only lasted 3-4 years before it disbanded with Denver Yoders and Henry Yoders moving to Altamont, TN and Levi Millers moving to Foxworth, MS