Year: 2014

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Getting Started With Essential Oils

I’m often asked about my use of essential oils. What are they? What brand do you prefer? How do I use them? Before I answer those questions, let me first tell you WHY I use essential oils: because THEY WORK! My son and I have experienced severe seasonal allergy for years. Prior to trying essential oils we experimented with almost every OTC and prescription out there. The results were marginal and the side effects were horrible! Who wants to stay medicated for nine months out of the year? Who wants to decide what’s worse, the allergies or the side effects? Who wants all those unnessary chemicals? NOT US!

From the first day we tried them, we were hooked! We were so successful that we tried essential oils for other things. We have used them for allergies, itchies, ouchies, grouchies, relaxation, muscle sprains, bruises, tummy yuckies, colds, headaches, migraines, edema, ear aches, infection, gout… I could go on and on. (Really. I could. All day. For real.)  I was so pleased that I became a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA.®

So… now you know why I love, love, love, using essential oils. Let’s go further answering the what, why, and how of using them.

 

What are essential oils?

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If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils protect plants and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health care practices.

Why dōTERRA® ?

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When you choose dōTERRA®, you are choosing essential oils gently and carefully 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. Each dōTERRA essential oil is also carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade dōTERRA essential oils.

How do I use them?

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Essential oils are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used a single oil at a time or in complex blends in one of three methods:

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Essential oils, when diffused, can be very stimulating, while others can be calming and soothing. Diffusing essential oils can also cleanse and purify the air.

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Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and many can be safely applied topically when used in conjunction with a carrier oil, such as Fractionated Coconut Oil.

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Certain essential oils have a rich culinary history and can be used as dietary supplements supporting a variety of healthy conditions.

To learn even more, click here to visit my site. Note: depending on your browser, you may get a “site not found” error- no worries! Click refresh and you’ll be on your way.

The informational section of this post and photos are attributed to dōTERRA International, 2014. 

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dōTERRA Give-Away !

 

Now is the time to try dōTERRA Essential Oils! I am offering an introductory kit that includes lavender, peppermint, lemon, AND an audio CD.  Enter to win. Details below.

 

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The Introduction to Essential Oils Kit includes the introductory audio CD and booklet and a 5 mL bottle of dōTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils. The stunning presentation box also includes suggested uses of the included oils providing you with an immediate experience of the life-changing benefits of essential oils.

To enter the drawing for this awesome give-away, you must do all of the following by midnight eastern time on Friday, December 5, 2014:

  • Subscribe to this site (MommieKate.com) by email
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Like me on Facebook
  • Share this post on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest
  •  And comment on this post

I cannot wait to inform the lucky winner! You are going to love these oils. I have used these three oils on myself and family for fever, stress, sleep, allergy, astringent, cough, sore throat, headache, and muscle aches just to name a few.

PLUS– Every person who enters (that’s right, I said EVERY) will receive a complimentary copy of “101 Uses,” outlining ideas for getting the most from these three oils. It’s a win for everyone!

 

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Listening to God

Today I was reading from the book of Jeremiah (Ch. 26). Heavy stuff. I thought to myself, “geeze Louise why didn’t they ever just listen?” Then this little voice in the back of my head said, “why don’t you?” Yikes, then I had to think about it.

I noticed that God ALWAYS warns us before we get ourselves into trouble. He doesn’t withhold knowledge of His Will from us. In the Old Testament He gave the people prophets. Now under the New Testament & Covenant He has given us His Word in the Bible and He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit of God ministers to us through the scriptures, through our own conscious, through our Church leaders, through our friends, even through our own children sometimes (don’t you just love those moments *cough, cough*). It seems the voice of God is everywhere IF we choose to listen.

How often are we too busy, too tired, too distracted, too “whatever” to notice that the Spirit of God is present to guide us?
How much frustration and hurt could be avoided if we took a moment to listen?
What would the day be like if we heeded His warning or followed His lead?
Where would it take us?
Who would benefit with us?
What if? What if instead of charging on ahead with my own words and deeds, I took a deep breath and listened to His voice? What if I paused long enough to receive His instruction?
What if I started right now? Today?
With just one deep breath…
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Expressing Emotions

Why is it that we need someone to tell us it is okay to feel? I’ve noticed over the years, especially in Christian circles, that we seem to think we have to be positive and smile ALL THE TIME. Now hold on there- I’m not advocating inflicting the world with a hateful attitude on a daily basis. I’m just saying it is time to be REAL.

Be HONEST.

Women tell me their struggles and then hurry to apologize. “I’m so sorry. Its been a little rough. I know I have so much to be grateful for. I shouldn’t feel this way. There are so many others suffering worse than I am…” I have heard you say this. I’ve said it too.

Why?

Christian women hear so many teachings against being ruled by their emotions. We’re taught that emotions can be destructive, they can lead us away from the truth, and they can destroy our faith. While these teachings are indeed true, we loose sight of another truth.

God FEELS.

Our great and almighty GOD, Creator of the universe, Lord above all, has and expresses emotion. He created us in HIS image. Would He give us emotions and then condemn us for feeling them? Of course not! It’s okay to feel what you feel. It’s okay to appropriately express what you feel.

And you know what?

You may just set another sister free. Your honest expression of emotion coupled with your prayer and confessions of faith may just loose someone else from their bondage of misguided “perfection.”  Think about it. We women are always looking and comparing ourselves and our lives to others. Unfortunately, most often we are comparing ourselves to unrealistic images of perfection. The enemy lies to us: “she never feels that way…you are weak…God is so disappointed in you…” We swallow those ugly lies hook, line, and sinker.

What if what other women saw in you was real?

What if your honesty encouraged another sister to seek help for her depression? What if it set an example for your children on how to appropriately express their own emotions? What if someone in your social group was inspired to lay down her burden of a perfect image and get real too? What if your story could change the world?

You are not supposed to be perfect.

 
Go ahead, feel what you feel. Name what you feel. Share what you feel if you need to share. Pray about what you feel.  And then…
          Release it.
 
Angry Face
Angry Face


                                        

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Gratitude When Seasons Change

Fall is my favorite season. It always has been. As a native Mississippian, autumn signals a nearing end to sweltering hot temperatures and oppressive humidity. In autumn the temperatures cool, the colors warm, and life seems to slow down a bit. It’s a natural time for me to pause and reflect on changing seasons.

I seem to be settling in to this new season of my life.  Kentucky has been good to us. Adjusting to a new location and a whole new way of life hasn’t always been easy. Change is good, though. It keeps us fresh. 
   Stimulated. 
      Challenged. 
          Curious. 
              Aware.
We left behind close family, good friends, and a more refined way of life.
We made new friends.
We found new adventures.
We embraced a new way of life.
We’ve found peace.
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dōTERRA Essential Oils

I am just loving using my dōTERRA essential oils! How in the world did my family manage without them? We have treated allergies, fever, sunburn, gout, muscle cramps, migraines, and upset tummy just to name a few.

 I am pleased to offer a chemical-free path to wellness as an Independent Product Consultant. Visit http://mydoterra.com/cathykimball to learn more about how dōTERRA essential oils can totally revolutionize the way you treat health concerns.
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Fresh Eggs !

We’ve spent all winter preparing the land for farming. In such a short amount of time, we have accomplished building the road, putting in underground telephone & electric power, and installed a water pump on our spring-fed creek.

Despite the extremely harsh winter we even acquired two livestock guardian dogs, four hens, a rooster, and a chicken tractor! Not a bad start if I do say so myself. AND…drumroll, please… We’ve already sold two dozen fresh eggs.

We are currently working on an expanded chicken pen and run. When we are through they will have a new coop and a 20′ x 25′ covered pen area. When they are not free ranging the pasture, they will have a large area to scratch in and do whatever it is that chickens do – mostly scratch.