Transforming my Life!

The last couple of years I've been slowly getting into making my own cleaning and beauty products.  The goal is to not have to use any products in my house with gross chemicals.  This year I've decided I'm going to really kick it into gear and go all out to transforming my life to a natural and healthy lifestyle! 

Two days ago I started oil pulling with coconut oil and my teeth feel just as clean if not cleaner than when I used toothpaste.  This is incredible!  I'm anxious to see the results as the weeks go by!  It is kind of hard to get used to the texture of the oil but it only takes about 30 seconds for it to melt then I shower while I swish it around in my mouth and I don't really notice it after the first few minutes.  I've been taking daily photos so I'm going to eventually make a collage to see the progression.  =]

Today, I officially went the "no 'poo" route!  This means that I have cut shampoo out of my life for good!  The chemicals in hair care products are out of control!  Besides, natural products work so much better!  I'm now washing my hair with baking soda and using apple cider vinegar for conditioner.  I'm extremely excited to see my hair retain some of those natural oils it needs to be healthy that shampoo washes away!

These two things were big steps for me!  My next step is to make my own deoderant and make-up! 

Currently, my natural homemade products and routines include:
-Oil pulling with coconut oil
-The "no 'poo" method of cleansing my hair
-laundry detergent
-cleaning products
-bath scrub
-facial cleanser


That list needs to be longer, but I'm so proud of myself for making these changes in my life!  I encourage you to do the same.  The sense of accomplishment and pride in creating your own products from natural resources is an incredible feeling!

Forgotten Memories Resurface

I have been slowly sorting through everything in our storage and house.  I really want to try to get rid of a lot of our stuff.  Me and Joey are quite the pack rats.  Joey likes to find cool little toys and then we keep them forever.   And I have two closets of clothes and shoes.  My goal is to get rid of half of my stuff.  We will be PCSing back to the states in 1 year and I need to clean out our junk if I'm going to find room for awesome Japanese stuff! 

Although I hate getting rid of stuff, I do enjoy the process.  I'm a slow organizer.  Mainly because I find old journals and pictures and just sit thinking about old memories for hours.  The job gets done eventually. haha

My favorite findings have been my journals from the worst times of my life (dating a guy that brought a gun to school.... my rebellious period.... emotionally abusive boyfriends..... losing the closest friends I ever had.....).  These moments were absolutely horrible.  But, they were absolutely necessary.  They were my stepping stones.  And going over these journals I just want to scream at old me to get out of those situations.  But, if those hadn't have happened I would never have grown as a person and realized what I really needed in life was Jesus.  I would have probably just become a "Sunday Christian" and never given it a second thought.  But, because of all the bad that happened to me and how broken I was, I was able to crawl back to my Lord and receive grace.  I also don't think everyone gets broken the same way.  Not everyone has to have a ridiculously horrible experience to find Jesus.  It just depends on the person.  I was a little more stubborn than most people haha. Everyone's testimony is different, but all end the same way.... Grace.

I am SO thankful I kept committed to writing my journals.  Although, I can't find some of them, I am glad for what I was able to keep.  I also wish I would have continued writing daily.  I stopped writing in my journals around my senior year...  Now I realize how special they can be and I plan on starting again.  It's just so cool to be able to go back for a minute and live in those moments again.  I feel like I've gained lost memories and emotions back. It's a very cool feeling.

Moving Forward From Fear

I was going to start off this blog with explaining my past in detail. My history which defines who I have become.  But I really don't want to go into this again. So here's the short version.

-I am a Christian and love my Lord and Savior with all my heart.
-I am an Air Force wife.
-I live in Japan.
-I am 21
-I've had 2 miscarriages.
-I had HORRIBLE morning sickness with my second pregnancy meaning I couldn't even keep water down.
-I hurt my back extremely bad from throwing up so much.
-A year later and I still have an injured back.
-I believe I have PCOS, but I have not been to the doctor yet. I will know for sure within a couple of weeks.
-My husband is currently deployed in Guam. Yes it is still considered a deployment even though it is a US territory because he will end up being there a total of 6 months.

Ok, I think that about covers it. I will not lie, this has been the hardest time of my life.  I never thought I would go through this much heartbreak at only 21.  But God has a different plan for everyone and I am blessed that He has given me this path even with all the pain and heartbreak.  If I had never gone through all this I wouldn't be able to meet and talk with so many other women who have had similar experiences.   I have been able to help people cope and share God's love and that is an incredible feeling.  But I am still healing and I am constantly falling back into a pit.

I often picture myself as Peter.  When he was focused on Jesus the storm could not overtake him.  But the SECOND he became frightened of the storm he began to be swallowed by not only the water... but by the fear.

Matthew 25-31
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
 But Jesus immediately said to them:"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you in the water."
"Come," He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"


My incredible husband, Joey, often tells me we can not live in fear when trying to get pregnant. I struggle with this because after 2 miscarriages the fear of a 3rd is overpowering.  But we can not live like that. We can not let the doubt and fear drown us. We must let God be in control.  It is so much easier when we just let it go and give it directly to God. He's got this.