What are we doing? A word about Easter.

This particular post is meant for those who consider themselves followers of Christ. You are welcome to read it if you don’t, but know that the intended audience is Christians, and that it just doesn’t apply unless you consider yourself one.

It’s springtime, and with it comes the obvious. You cannot walk into any retail establishment without noticing all the Easter decorations. Easter is touted as the most important holiday of the Christian calendar, signifying the ultimate work of Jesus on earth, the crucifixion and resurrection. The problem is? It isn’t. Jesus did not rise on Easter Sunday. I’m sorry. 

Wait. 

I know we have been told He did. But it isn’t really the truth. If it is, the bible becomes disconjointed and we miss out on what was intended. 

What in the world?

Stay with me. If you’ll remember (or you can read John 13) “It was just before the Passover…” Oh, yeah. The Jewish feast. 

Oftentimes, like this year, the Passover and Easter overlap each other, so this tiny detail matters little unless you really study it and think about it. But not last year. Last year, the two were a month apart. Passover began Friday, April 22 at sundown and ended April 30th at sundown. Easter fell on March 27.    A month, y’all. 

Why does this even matter? 

In Luke 22:15-16 Jesus says… “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." Some bibles call this the “Last Supper” because Jesus died shortly after and because Jesus also said, “I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”  I think the church has surmised that because Jesus won’t be eating the Passover until the Kingdom comes, then we should follow his example. 

But in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul has just addressed a terrible controversy in that church and parallels the acceptance of one man’s sin in that church to leaven at Passover. If you don’t know, during Passover the Hebrew people take all leavening out of their homes during the festival time, which is about a week long. No baking soda, yeast, vinegar, etc. If it could make the dough rise, it was out. Leaven is synonymous with sin here, and Paul says that just a tiny bit will fill the whole of the dough, or in the case of sin, the whole of the church. 1 Corinthians 5:8 is the famous line we hear at communion, “Therefore let us keep the feast…” Paul’s ministry came after Jesus. It is clear by this passage that the Hebrews were still celebrating the Passover after Jesus’ ascension. My point is that they were not waiting for the Kingdom to come to celebrate it.

The origins of the word Easter are up for debate. Some say it is named after the pagan equinox festival “Eostre,” meaning “East,” while others mention “Ishtar,” a pagan goddess of fertility. The word “Passover” is notated as “Pesach” in Hebrew or “Pascha” in Greek/Latin. “Easter” is often interchanged with “Pascha,” which makes it seem like the holidays are one in the same. Yet, given that these two holidays do not always line up on the calendar, I don’t see them as the same. One is true; one is false. Add to that the fact that the pagan aspects of Easter have survived so long and it becomes clear that things aren’t adding up. Anyone can look up the pagan origins of Easter. That’s a no-brainer. My question is, “What place does that have in a church that claims to follow Christ?”

This is a really deep subject. I don’t want to go that deep. I have only touched the surface of this here. It is simple to me, but maybe because I dug into it before. I encourage you to dig for yourself. I would never want anyone to take everything I say and apply it to themselves. The good Lord gave us a brain for a reason. Seeking out the truth is what he desires from us. Too often we sit and wait and absorb the knowledge fed to us. Read your bible. Do a google search. Pray about it. 

Because Easter is richly steeped in pagan practices, our family no longer observes that day and have opted to seek out and celebrate the Passover. We are not good at it. It hasn't been an easy or comfortable transition, but it gives us peace. The commerciality of every holiday is nauseating. I love pretty things, and am addicted to sugar like the next guy, but that is not the Father’s best. I will still be your friend if you want to celebrate Easter. (99% of my friends do, unless they are just afraid to mention the elephant in the room) But I would not be much of a friend if I didn’t tell you why I don’t. 

I don’t have all the answers. The main thing I keep remembering is that the Lord told his people NOT to worship him the way the pagans did. (Deut 12) I love Him. I want to honor Him. If I kept up a tradition my old boyfriend enjoyed in order to celebrate something for my husband, that would be absurd. And really mean. That isn't love. It is not harmless. It is not an oversight.

I'm curious if any of my friends have celebrated the Passover, and if so, how you do it. Our culture just doesn't talk about it, and I wasn't raised in a home that celebrates it, so I don't know a whole lot. It seems way simpler than other holidays, which is nice, as it isn't a prime target for commercialism. :) I would love to hear how your family observes this ancient feast. Please comment and tell me your experience!

What's in your medicine cabinet?

Boy Scout first aid kit circa 1950's

What does your medicine cabinet look like? Everyone handles the care and comfort of their families in the best way they can. All of us are looking for ways to improve upon that and there is always room for improvement. 

When I was a little girl we saw our family physician regularly. He delivered me and my sister. We loved Dr. Hill. We always went to him when we got sick. Not every little cold, but when we were hit hard enough to miss school and need a doctor’s note, we were there. We also knew the drill. See the doctor. Get a shot. Take the green cough medicine. It was codeine. An opiate. We kept in in the medicine cabinet at home and would self-treat when symptoms reoccured. I liked it. I wonder why? It is seriously addictive and dangerous when overdone. Repressing symptoms is dangerous anyway, but I digress.

Growing up, our family's medicine cabinet held tons of prescription left-overs, headache medicines and pain relievers, antacids, and cold medicines. It looked like the medicine shelf at the drug store.

Fast-forward a couple of decades and I was newly married and raising a family. I continued visiting the same doctor until I got pregnant. Then, I saw an OB since things had changed and family physicians didn’t really deliver anymore. It was rare I would need to see a doctor, but when I did, there was usually a prescription to go along with it.

The kids were another story. We did vaccinate. I won’t talk about this here, but they were always sick. Recurring ear infections, eczema, asthma, milk intolerance, long-term constipation, dire stomach pain, full blown food allergies, hay fever, and yearly colds. The yearly colds happened to the girls, for whom I could count on a month-long string of doctor visits, nights sitting up to breathe, nebulizer treatments, cranky kids, and a nervous mom. February, in case you want to know which month.

For our health issues, I supplemented vitamin c, fish oil, multivitamins, and limited sugar. After that, I depended on medicines the doctors recommended. I had limits. We were not doing a month (!?) of Miralax. Instead, we added prunes. This seemed to help. Instead of steroid cream, I added fish oil to the diet and removed hydrogenated oils to heal eczema. Eczema is often associated with future asthma. I am relieved that the child who suffered from eczema is the one child who does not suffer from asthma. Thank you, Alice, for your suggestion about essential fatty acids!! I have removed dairy and other sensible things in order to get to the root cause of illnesses, and not just suppress symptoms. I have now added raw dairy, which is far more digestible than the pasteurized version at the store. (And it's practically free, since I have my own goats!)

So my own medicine cabinet had pretty much the same things as they did growing up, sans antacids. (Those are so bad for you!!) I did have a TON of supplements that helped us enjoy somewhat better health than when I was a kid.

Things are very different now. In full disclosure: I have 2 medicines that are over the counter run-of-the-mill drugs. I have a bottle of Flonase for Jeff and an inhaler for Kailyn. His hay fever is bad and this helps him. Perhaps when the girls have success with homeopathy he will do that too. Today I just ordered the medicines to root out asthma and allergies. Kailyn had a bad asthma attack at track last week. She began to lose vision because she didn’t know she had to stop running. She thought she could press through it. (!!!!) She forgot her inhaler. She uses it so rarely, I can understand that. It’s been months since she’s used it. We ended up using an oil to help soothe her airways and a homeopathic to fix it. I didn’t have the right homeopathic, but I rubbed her back and had her rest and drink lots of fluids. In case you’re wondering, we are putting her on an adjusted track workout. Just jumping. She doesn’t need to ever do that again. Maybe she can heal and try next year. We also have a nebulizer, but the albuterol expired, so it's there just in case. 

This journey has been long and is so full of detail that I’m going to skip ahead and give you a cheat sheet. My methods may seem crazy to you, but we only see the doctor to get physicals for the teenagers now. They knew me well before. I am so thankful for all the help and care we have received. However, I am much happier to have the ability to care for minor issues at home and root them out before they become serious. 

My healing cheat sheet

This list has been 20 years in the making. It has taken many sleepless nights and long-suffering to create. That is not an exaggeration. When I’m the sick person I can’t even think straight and suffer needlessly because no one else is thinking of what to do. I will break it down and save you about 20 years. You’re welcome.

my oil collection

Essential Oils: I use Young Living only. People have their brands, this is mine. This brand can be diffused, used topically, and taken orally. (The Vitality line is labeled for digestive purposes, and the same exact product is packaged for topical use with another label, per FDA guidelines.) Get an app for your phone that tells you what to use them for. Using essential oils supported my kids’ immune system to the point that doctor visits went from several times a year, including a full month of horrid colds, to only 1-2 visits per year (AS A FAMILY- like, one kid once and MAYBE one kid another time for illness.) That was life changing; so much so that I educate others about essential oils. 

Homeopathy: I have stories. Injuries, illnesses, and emotional issues are all included in those stories. I'll have to share some later. Suffice to say homeopathy is very powerful medicine and I now cannot imagine life without it. I have a kit of 100 meds  (also called remedies), another kit of 50 remedies,  another kit of 12 remedies, dozens of remedies I’ve collected from Whole Foods, Granary, HEB and The Vitamin Shoppe, and I order from a pharmacy for what I cannot get locally. I carry a dozen or so remedies with me at all times. One thing to know is to store them away from your essential oils. This summer I am leading a homeopathic study group that I am making available locally or online. Please let me know if you want to be on the list for the next class! You’ll be glad you did.

all this...

in here

Vitamin C and D3. Buy a good brand. Walmart is not good. 

Herbs- I order some from Mountain Rose. I make teas from chamomile, hibiscus, and ginger. Some of my homeopathic protocols include herbal tinctures. Never buy cheap herbs. 

Honey and  cinnamon- 1 teaspoon of raw or Manuka honey mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (Mountain Rose is what I use) will often knock out respiratory symptoms when taken every 3 hours. (We take it more than the blog suggested.)

Bone Broth can be made at home with the bones of meat you cook with. You can find recipes here and here. Collagen is the part of the broth that is so soothing to the tummy and can be added to hot drinks (I like it in my hibiscus tea with Ninxia Red.) Sole (SOH-lay) is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Good salt is curative. Here’s the place I learned about it. I credit sole with balancing my minerals and helping me feel better while recovering from adrenal issues. I like to add collagen and sole to my bone broth. The 1 teaspoon of sole to the 8 oz of broth is really yummy, warm, and comforting. Sometimes we add a little parsley on the top, a tiny sprinkle of garlic and maybe some pepper.

Berries- my kids can usually stomach these when nothing else sounds good. They are so full of antioxidants. Just make sure you buy organic. (I KNOW it’s so much more $$. But sick bodies don’t need poison.)

Kombucha- I used to make my own, but don't have the space anymore. A friend has invited me to make some at her house. We'll try that sometime when we have a little time to do it! You can read more about kombucha here, here, and here.

Ginger- we like crystallized ginger to soothe a sick tummy. It gives me time to find the right homeopathic medicine.

Activated charcoal is great for cleaning out your insides. I use it when someone is feeling sick, or when I eat something super junky. It absorbs toxins. 

TKM- We call this "The King Method" at home. You can learn more about the King method here. It is a healing technique that simply uses your hands to do the work. I have only scratched the surface with the first aid class I took. Using the knowledge gained there and a little further study, I have stopped bleeding injuries and bruising on multiple occasions, completely circumvented a huge knot on my head (a few times,) significantly lessened a sunburn, brought down a fever, abated nausea, and accidentally detoxed my husband after an expensive glass of bourbon. (The fastest way to detox is via vomiting. He wasn’t feeling sick at all, he just didn’t believe it would work. He won't let me touch him for that anymore.) It's not for everyone, but I would say at the very least, learn how to stop bleeding using this method.

Tuina massage uses specific pressure point massage to heal pediatric coughing. It is seriously awesome. You can learn this very easily. I purchased a quick video course one morning and was able to stop Maddox's croupy cough for several hours with one treatment. I only did the massage 3-4 times over the course of a day and a half and he was well again. 

Our 'tub' 😕

Epsom Salt soak: I love to add essential oils to the salt and then mix into a soothing bath. This can be detoxifying, soothing, or even pain relieving. Missing my bathtub!! We will soak feet in a foot bath if we can’t get the whole body in. Your feet are connected to all systems of your body, so even a foot bath is healing. I have a kiddie pool for the kids to soak in epsom salts in their swimsuits. The hose runs to a hot water spigot on the outside of the RV. Perhaps we'll get a galvanized trough one day.

Juicing: We feel better FAST when we juice! Our go-to recipe is kale, carrots, lemon, beets, apples, celery, ginger, and cucumber.

Lacey after her epsom salt soak in the sun. She was only down one day, but it's so sad when they are down.

Rest allows your body to actually heal itself.

Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D3.

Lymphatic Massage: Massaging around the ears and throat helps move out clogs and allows your sinuses to drain properly. Dry brushing is a way of stimulating the entire lymphatic system. I try to do this before I shower. Another way to stimulate the lymphatic system is to alternate hot and cold water as you shower. (I try to tell myself the cold water is like a waterfall. I hate the feeling of hot/cold/hot/cold, but I really feel better when I do that!!

Honey Wrap: I do not have personal experience with this. I honestly hope not to. This is two different treatments. 1. you can make a honey wrap for a coughing child to heal the cough. 2. You can coat an injury in honey to facilitate the healing. Raw honey, of course. In my research, I read about a cat with a leg injury that was so bad it was recommended that the leg be amputated. The owner opted to coat the leg in honey and wrapped it up in a bag, basically just soaking it in honey for days. The leg healed completely. There are more stories, but that was the most impressive one.

Chiropractor: They do not just make your back feel better. They can help clear out some underlying disturbances, and facilitate healing in many organ systems. I had one chiropractor that did an lymphatic flush when I came in feeling flu-like. I was better in minutes. The teens are currently seeing the chiropractor weekly. They bring their ailments to her and she changes what she does based on what is going on. Jeff recently had kidney stones and she adjusted for that. BOY, was that a huge help to him. (It was residual pain, not an active stone.)

Body massage: what wouldn’t that help? I can’t afford to just run out and book an hour long appointment, but someone is usually around to rub my feet or shoulders.

A homeopathic electrolyte option

Hydrate, Electrolytes: This is easy to forget. And SKIP those high fructose corn syrup and color-laden options! Opt for Shaklee's Performance, sole, or bioplasma. 

Probiotics: Fermented foods are one way to get this, but they will only get so far in your gut. Some other probiotics are better taken as supplements since they need to get past the stomach acids to become effective. Some good brands are Shaklee, Probiotic America, and BioKult. These often take time (weeks) to work, so don’t expect a fast improvement, but it’s a reminder to take care of your gut health. The immune system is in the gut.

Calendula and Arnica gels are homeopathic gels that you can find at health food stores and Walgreens. They also make creams and ointments. Calendula is amazing for cuts and burns. Arnica is great for bruising and soreness.

I keep Bandaids and wound strips around. If you use a wound strip on some deeper cuts quickly, you’ll avoid larger scars by taping them closed. I don’t like butterfly strips- they don’t work for me, but the long wound strips are very nice. Those are found at Walgreens. I clean the wound (usually with lavender oil) and put a small amount of Calendula gel on it and then cover it. I might also follow up with a homeopathic that will prevent infection if the situation merits it.

Mg spray is Magnesium spray. This is good for sore or stiff muscles, as well as relaxing for sleep. It’s like an epsom salt bath in a spray bottle. (Although I'd take that bath any day over the spray!)

In addition to this list, I use saline nose spray and saline eyewash for the kids when they have allergy issues. I also use Castor oil for inflamed areas and sore joints and muscles. Looks like I'll be adding to my list! 

Another thing to consider is real food. If you are eating processed items, they are not good. That cannot be overstated. I recommend this website, as well as this one if you are interested in learning more.

There you have it! You know my secrets.

What about you? Do you use any of these? Do you have other things you do that I don’t? Please tell me about them!