Steadfast Love and the Hands of God

I have been in a struggle.  I cling to rituals.  They are my stability.  While my address and employment and facets of my life change and evolve, I cling to my traditions for stability and peace and communion with God.  
They are my firm foundation.  
But lately, for about a year now, that foundation has been a shifting plate. I have watched my stability fall away as chronic illness revealed itself.  What a looking glass!  Those elements of my daily life that gave me my grounding also left me when I fell- like a tree with shallow roots that upturns in the wind.  I've never been a fan of pines.  Oaks speak to me.  Wide deep rooted life forces are what I seek.  Sinking into that realization and shifting my perspective has dominoed onto every important facet of my life.  I was hugging a pine tree forest. I began to systematically question the roots of everything I love. Are any of my friendships real?  Is my marriage grounded?  Have I shown my children God? Have I even touched the surface?  Through this, I've witnessed my growth into deeper wisdom. I've shifted my reactions into responses.    I've blossomed my business.  I've looked friends in the eye and recognized the deep connections that are worth my hugs.  But I have been stuck on my role in my home.  A universal female struggle of being mother and wife and teacher balanced against being a business owner, community builder and leader among my peers.  And showing my family the depth of God in that mess.  How do you teach depth when everywhere you turn you see shallow?  Maybe you just keep turning?  Experience has shown me that depending on community to show my children the roots of faith is shallow.  As a child who was routinely delivered to church but had no grounding at home, I should have known this inherently. It took a few light bulb moments to really sink in. I have shown my family surface faith.  Because my foundation was nothing but questions.  I didn't have roots to draw on anymore.  
They had been eaten away.  

I have been called to deeper spirituality.  The doors and windows have opened and I have doubted their intention.  Was I being called to God?   Or distracted from Him?  I've been riddled with guilt as I have moved further away from the institutional religion that was the stability of my faith for 30 years.  And here I am opening my life and home up to the public while grazing over the needs of my family.  So I sat with my thoughts, a business that demands my attention, a community that depends on me and a family that deserves to be the heart of it all.  I took the holidays off.  No work.  No hosting.  Just family.  I found quiet.  I can feel my ground firming.  I like spending time with these people.  Focused time.  Not rushed minutes between tasks, but making time with them be the task.  
They are the task!  
I'm not letting this foundation go.  The rewards are too vast.  And still in this holiday season the issue of spirituality in my family has lingered.  My need for personal fuel lead me back to those doors.  Early next week, I will receive a reiki attunement.  I am hopeful.  To prepare, I am tasked with daily meditations.  That is uncomfortable, but I'm working my way there.  This morning, I needed to read words of inspiration.  I searched my 100s of books for something that would speak to me.  Shoved in the back of my nightstand drawer, I found a small pamphlet titled "Stability" and in it- 
"I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.  
Psalm 5:7".   
There you have it.  All the questions and fears and callings aligned to show me the path to reveal the depth of God to my children~ through me.  Through my steadfast love.  My time.  My attention.  My hands.  Here is my invitation to be the hands of God to the people I love the most.  My steadfast love brings God into my home.
  Thank you, universe, for bringing me here.  
I'm grateful for the journey.

The Puppy Slayer

Yesterday was an adventure.  We were out and about when Ivy and her friends saw a man who had puppies to rehome.  The girls played with the dogs and saw a sign that said they were $5 each.  As the girls were picking up dogs to play with, the man told them that if he didn't find them homes in one hour, he would kill them.  Not that he might have to take them to the pound or call a shelter but that HE WOULD KILL them. He also told the girls they could have them for free so that he wouldn't HAVE to kill them.  My daughter and her friends approached me, obviously shaken.  With tears in her eyes, she asked if we could bring them home.  Then she explained what had happened.  The other girls verified the story that this man told them repeatedly that the dogs were FREE and that he would KILL them if they didn't take them.  I had to leave quickly in order to bring my other daughter work, but I told Ivy to keep the dogs with her and that we would work this out as a family.  I left and called my husband who was there with us, but not close enough to have heard what happened.  I had to get him on page quickly.  As soon as I returned, I learned that the same man approached Ivy after I left and told her that she owed him $20 for the dogs and that he would be bringing 5 more to the same spot in a few days.  She promptly handed over the money. After a couple adults found out what had transpired and approached him, he apologized to her but did not return her money.  He was gone when I got back.

So we have four adorable husky mix puppies.  They appear healthy.  All have been bathed and found to be flealess.  I am guessing they are about 7 weeks old.  My children are all quickly falling in love with each of them.  Wouldn't it be great if mine all fell in love with the same dog?  But, no.  They each love a different puppy.  Alas, we cannot add 4 growing dogs to our brood.

We are hoping to rehome these pups for a $10 rehoming fee so that Ivy can have her money back. I am trying to add spay/neuter certificates to their rehoming package.  

People suck.  But these babies are adorable!  They are so sweet and decently house trained. There were no accidents during the day yesterday. They are beginning to hop around and play, they eat dry food and still have puppy breath.  

Tea Club CSA

Sign up now for our Tea Club CSA.

Locally grown pesticide free custom blended herbal teas.

Depending on your brew strength, you can expect a minimum of 10 medicinally strong or 15-20 medium bodied cups per week. 

12 weeks of local Alexandria pickup for $100

Specialty add-ons are available for an additional cost.

Each member will receive a weekly email citing available pickup times as well as add on options.

This session begins the first week of April and finishes in June.

Email Eden.Naturals@yahoo.com to get started. 

Scoby care part 1~ how to start your Kombucha

When you get your scoby, it will be in a small 6 ounce jar. You must baby it, in order to grow it.

Week 1~ brew 6 bags of black tea in a quart mason jar. When warm,  remove bags and add one and a half cups of sugar. I use raw cane sugar.  When room temperature, add scooby and starter liquid. Keep in a warm place with a loose lid for 7 days.

Week 2~ Harvest your booch. Leave enough liquid to cover scoby. Repeat week 1

Week 3~ Harvest again.  Brew 10 bags of black tea in a half gallon jar.  When warm, remove bags and add 2 cups of sugar.  When room temperature, add scoby and starter. Seven days later, you can harvest or begin a second ferment.

Do not use herbal or green tea honey or other sweeteners in this process. You must use only sugar and black tea.  You may add fruit for flavor during the second fermentation.  Watch for those instructions in a part two of this post.

If you notice baby stories growing during this process, you may harvest them and begin with step 1. Be sure to include starter liquid.

Placenta Encapsulation

Placenta encapsulation is the process of preparing the mother’s placenta after the birth of her baby(ies) (by separating the membranes and umbilical cord from the placenta and rinsing and draining maternal and fetal blood) and dehydrating it to then be ground and placed into capsules for the mother to ingest as she sees fit. The ingestion of the placenta is known as “placentophagy.” The purpose of placentophagy by the mother is to reintroduce the beneficial vitamins, minerals, hormones, proteins, and other nutrients to her body following labor and birth to help restore a more balanced body function, prevent “baby blues” and the more serious postpartum depression,increase breast-milk production, shorten healing time, increase maternal energy levels, and provide an overall feeling of wellness to aid in the transition between pregnancy and the early postpartum period in the woman who has just given birth.

This service contracts for $200 with local delivery.  Cord care and herbal tea are extra.

To get your name on our calender, email eden.naturals@yahoo.com or call (318)709-6105.

Baby safe elderberry now in stock!

We are now offering three varieties of elderberry syrup.

Original featuring a perfectly simple formula of berries and local, raw honey.
$12

Spiced with its powerful extra punch of cinnamon and ginger
$14

And the new addition~ unsweetened elderberry with echinacea and mint.  This variety is made without honey keeping it safe for infants under 12 months.  The syrup strength is not compromised and is still an effective aid for adults.
$14


All jars are 8oz and shelf stable until opened.

Recommended dosing for healthy adults is 1-2 tsp/day.  When ill, take up to 1 tsp/hr as needed.

For children 6-12, use 1/2 tsp

3-6, 1/4 tsp

0-3, 1/8 tsp

Elderberry is food.  Doses are approximate and may be increased as you see fit.

Use of this product is not recommended for people with autoimmune disease.  Those on blood pressure medication are advised to monitor themselves closely as these berries are known to help regulate blood pressure.

Do not use more than five days in a row. Allow your immune system three days to realign itself before beginning to consume the syrup again.

Prices are for local pick up only.

Shipping available with a minimum order.  Email eden.naturals@yahoo.com for details.

And here is my happy healthy baby.  Just cause.  :)

Braised Spinach

Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil over medium heat.  Add 1/2 cup sliced garlic or leeks and 1/8 tsp sea salt.  Saute for 3 minutes or until they caramelize.  Add 4 cups fresh spinach.  Continue stirring over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until wilted.

Serve.

Happy Hippie Fudge; easy guilt free chocolate

Satisfy a craving. Load up on good things like antioxidants and local honey.  Avoid all those unwanteds like preservatives, dyes, and unethical factory production practices.
Simple.  Quick.  And very affordable.

Ingredients:
Your favorite fair trade chocolate powder.  Cocoa or cacao.  Take your pick.
Coconut oil.  I like organic unrefined.
Local raw honey
Your favorite nut butter


Use equal parts of all four.  I usually do 1/4 cup.
In a sauce pan, melt oil on low heat.  Remove from heat.  Stir in honey and chocolate.
Pour into glass dish.  I use 5x8. Optional: line dish with wax or parchment paper
Pour in mixture.  Spoon in nut butter.  Swirl.

Chill in freezer for 15 minutes to set.
Either remove paper and slice or slice in dish.  You can play with small cookie cutters if you are patient.  I prefer a sharp knife.
Fudge is creamy and rich.
Enjoy!

Electrolytes- Better than Berry Ade

Did you know that staying hydrated is not just about drinking water?  You need electrolytes.  This is especially important for athletes, people working in the sun and pregnant or nursing moms.
Coconut water is a great source, but at $2+ per serving, it is not very budget friendly.

This homemade electrolyte drink is much healthier than commercial versions, easy and affordable.

Better than Berry Ade

3 cups water
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp honey
1/8 tsp sea salt

Blend and serve!

For bonus points, add 1/4 cup kombucha.